UK Politics Thread part II

[Jimbuna]

Rishi Sunak criticised for 'appalling cronyism' after knighting billionaire Tory donor Mohamed Mansour


Rishi Sunak has announced a major donor to the Conservative Party will be knighted as part of the Easter honours, leading rivals to criticise “cronyism”.

Labour and Liberal Democrat members have called out the prime minister for awarding the honour to Mohamed Mansour - who gave the Tories £5 million last year.

The Egyptian-born billionaire businessman’s name was one of several on Easter honours list and Tories have said it reflects his charitable work.

Labour Party chairwoman Anneliese Dodds said: “This is either the arrogant act of an entitled man who’s stopped caring what the public thinks, or the demob-happy self-indulgence of someone who doesn’t expect to be prime minister much longer.

“Either way, it shows a blatant disrespect for the office he should feel privileged to hold.”
Paul Kohler, a Lib Dem candidate for Wimbledon constituency, added: “Even in the wake of this appalling example of Tory cronyism, Labour have not ruled out giving honours to donors.”

Born in Alexandria, Sir Mohamed is now a British citizen and is the chairman of Mansour Group, which is one of the largest businesses in Egypt, as well as the London-based investment firm Man Capital.

He donated the £5 million to the Conservative Party in 2023, which was their biggest single donation since 2001.

"I look at what he has achieved in his first months in office and think what he could do in five years," Mr Mansour said of Mr Sunak - adding he wanted to see him re-elected.

Other names up for an Easter honour are British-American film director Christopher Nolan as well as Tory MPs including Tracey Crouch, Harriett Baldwin and Philip Davies.

Easter honours are not a traditional event and Reform UK leader Richard Tice said that other names had been added alongside that of Mr Mansour to “disguise” their intentions.

“The nation is sick of the Tories and their obscene cronyism,” he told the Telegraph.

“Bung them a few million quid and a peerage or knighthood is yours. The whole thing stinks like a rotting fish, from the head.

“Amusingly, they have tried to disguise their tracks with various other soft or cultural types being honoured. We are not that stupid.”

Sir Mohamed’s charitable work includes supporting The King’s Foundation and the St Paul’s Cathedral’s Remember Me project for those who died of Covid-19 in the UK.

Mr Sunak has recommended the honours to the King and the announcement comes ahead of the Easter recess - not the traditional times of June or New Year.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/newslondon/rishi-sunak-criticised-for-appalling-cronyism-after-knighting-billionaire-tory-donor-mohamed-mansour/ar-BB1kKMp4?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=a14af3a2129a4ce184c1b2dcf767f445&ei=38

[Jimbuna]

'Very worried' Tory MP admits Reform is 'absolutely killing us' in leaked recording


Reform UK is "absolutely killing" the Tories, one of Rishi Sunak's MPs has admitted in a leaked recording.

Danny Kruger, who co-chairs the right-wing New Conservatives faction, said he was "very, very worried" about voters switching to the insurgent party.

The Tory MP for Devizes made the comments at a gathering of local party members in Salisbury last Friday.

In a leaked recording reported by The Telegraph, he is asked about the increasing support for the rebranded Brexit Party.

Mr Kruger replied: "Yes. Yes, we should. I am very worried about that. Very, very worried about that."

Asked what can be done, Mr Kruger added: "Well, I mean, bluntly, we need to take the voters back because those voters voted Conservative last time, overwhelmingly - obviously some, not all.
"But they are at now, in some polls, 15% and we're like at 19%. So I mean, they are absolutely killing us."

Mr Kruger also admitted Reform's criticism of the Conservative Party is "mostly valid".

He said: "But I am sympathetic to their general critique. I don't really believe in them, I don't really like them to be honest.

"I don't think they stand for genuine conservative ideas, I think they're just a destructive force. I think it will be a tragedy if they did end up replacing us.
"But their general critique of what's wrong, I think, is mostly valid. And the people who are attracted to them, I understand why and we have to have major respect for them, not insult them."

It comes as a new YouGov poll has put Richard Tice's outfit on a record 16%, just five points behind the Tories on 21%.

Ashfield MP Lee Anderson earlier this month defected to the right-wing party after losing the Conservative whip in an Islamophobia row.

Pollsters have suggested Nigel Farage, who is Reform's honorary president, would provide a further boost if he returns to frontline politics.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/very-worried-tory-mp-admits-reform-is-absolutely-killing-us-in-leaked-recording/ar-BB1kKfTp?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=90b74564e9b84cea931eb2989e424d61&ei=23

[Moonlight]

Starmer or Sunak are not capable of fixing what's wrong with the UK and, the sad fact is, there isn't anyone else on both parties backbenchers who are either.

Who would I vote for out of these three.

Tice.
He's an unknown quantity at this time, would the voters elect him as Prime Minister, I seriously doubt that will happen, maybe in 10 to 15 years time they might do but, the UK doesn't need a political novice or his party at this time.
Starmer.
Not a cat in hells chance, he'd be inviting Migrants, Terrorists, the EU and the UN into British political decision making, he has no backbone and neither has his party. He'd be too quick to drop to his knees, and even quicker at dropping his pants, he's a top class currant who can't be trusted.
Sunak.
This currant is probably the worst Prime Minister we've ever had, unelected or elected, the quicker this twat left this country the better for all of us, how those dickheads of the Tory party could vote for this political pigmy I'll never know but, that tells me one thing as well, they aren't fit to govern either.

The good ship HMS UK, hasn't got a skipper or a rudder, well done Sunak, now **** off back to India and don't come back. :O:

[Jimbuna]

Ex-immigration minister Robert Jenrick proposes migrant crime data is published

Details of nationality, immigration and visa status should be recorded whenever a criminal is convicted, ex-immigration minister Robert Jenrick has proposed.

Mr Jenrick has submitted an amendment to the government's Criminal Justice Bill, saying the data would help to inform deportation and visa policies.

"We would want to apply a higher level of scrutiny to nationalities that are higher risk," he said.

Rishi Sunak has been under pressure to cut net migration figures.

Revised estimates published in November indicated net migration - the difference between the number of people arriving and leaving Britain - reached a record 745,000 in 2022.

Mr Jenrick resigned as immigration minister in December in protest at the prime minister's Rwanda deportation plan.

His amendment, first reported by the Daily Telegraph, would mean a report presented to Parliament each year which would collate the nationality, visa and asylum status of every offender convicted in English and Welsh courts in the previous 12 months.

Mr Jenrick's proposal has been backed by 25 MPs, including Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg and Sir Robert Buckland.

If the amendment is submitted, it would be one of dozens submitted for the Criminal Justice Bill.

It would need to be selected to be voted on by the entire House of Commons as the overall bill continues its passage through Parliament, and would then become part of the government policy if it is backed by a majority of MPs.

A government source told the BBC: "We will consider the amendment and engage with colleagues in the usual way."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68697796

[Jimbuna]

Tories to keep hold of less than 100 seats as Labour take 468, new poll suggests in further blow to Rishi Sunak - whose own constituency survey says is also at risk

The Tories are on track to suffer their worst election result with less than 100 seats, while Labour could sweep the board with 468, a new poll suggests.

In such a scenario, Sir Keir Starmer's party could end up with a 286-seat majority as Britain swings from Conservative rule to the first Labour government in 14 years, according to a 15,000-person MRP poll conducted by Survation on behalf of Best for Britain.

With 45 per cent of the vote, Labour would largely dominate the House of Commons, with the Tories picking up just 98 seats and notably not one in Scotland or Wales, The Sunday Times reports.
Adding to his woes, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is not even guaranteed his own constituency, with just a 2.5 percentage point lead and the new Richmond & Northallerton seat forecast to be won by Labour.

Also treading a fine line of risk is Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, who leads by just one point over the Liberal Democrats in his new seat of Goldaming & Ash.

This latest poll will fuel further fears that delaying the election until later in the year will almost guarantee a Conservative defeat.

Tory MPs have privately told Sunak fears that things will only get worse for the party, suggesting the PM could use the Rwanda row as a springboard for a campaign.

The frenzied speculation came as the PM publicly bemoaned his 'hospital pass' from Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, saying he had inherited the 'worst' situation for 'decades'.

Conservative unrest has been mounting over previous dire polls showing Keir Starmer on track for a landslide when the country goes to the ballot boxes.

Election guru Sir John Curtice has estimated a 99 per cent chance of Labour being in power in the next Parliament.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/other/tories-to-keep-hold-of-less-than-100-seats-as-labour-take-468-new-poll-suggests-in-further-blow-to-rishi-sunak-whose-own-constituency-survey-says-is-also-at-risk/ar-BB1kO27I?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=a5b0a0d4dcd147e8ab6c861e9cc5a956&ei=60

[Moonlight]

ROBERT JENRICK: Why do we still send millions to China when we desperately need that money to defend ourselves against countries like... China?

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-13255759/robert-jenrick-china-military-defence-aid-budget.html

This is a strange one, politicians who've been running the UK for 14 years can moan about the politicians who've been in charge for the last 14 years with a straight face. Maybe he shouldn't be asking those in power that question but, the normal everyday person instead, I'm sure they'll put him on the right track.

The real scandal here is that the government borrows billions of ££££££s just so they can give it away to the likes of China, India and Pakistan, all of whom have invested heavily into nuclear weapons and 2 of them having their own space programs, thick twats or what?, undoubtedly.

If I said to my family, right we're thousands of ££££££s in debt but I'm going to borrow more money so I can give it away to charity, I wonder what any sane person would say to that, that's what our so-called government is doing.

Britain's Conservative government reduced overseas aid from 0.7% to 0.5% of gross national income (GNI) in 2020, the Labour Party were shedding bucket loads of crocodile tears as usual but, you can expect Starmer and his lefty baboons to increase it back to 0.7% pretty damn quick.

Foreign Aid needs to be scrapped, its being abused by most countries who have their grasping hands out and, it wouldn't surprise me if oil rich countries are in receipt of Foreign Aid too.

[Jimbuna]

Be fair, someone has to pay for the Chinese space programe.

[Jimbuna]

https://i.postimg.cc/d0dpSBBF/222.png (https://postimg.cc/1gmv8D27)
https://i.postimg.cc/TwJST3FH/222b.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[Moonlight]

^Come on man cough up and stop being a skinflint, this begging by the Labour Party is getting bloody embarrassing now, you can chuck in a tenner for me while you're at it, I've always wanted to be as generous with other peoples money as the Labour Party are. :haha:

[Jimbuna]

Not one penny....those days are long past for me.

I've yet to forgive the party for allowing Steptoe take over the leadership role.

[Moonlight]

Steptoe's son, "Starmer", was in Corbyn's government too you know, but he never had any honour to lose in the first place, it's a shame politicians don't follow union rules, "One Out All Out", or we'd have been shut of the lot of the Lefty Anti-Semitic bastards. :O:

[Jimbuna]

Labour would win 154-seat majority if election held tomorrow, pollsters find

Rishi Sunak is on course to suffer a general election defeat similar to the Conservatives’ 1997 blowout, pollsters have found.

The latest YouGov polling has found Labour would win 403 seats from across the UK, leading to a 154-seat majority in the House of Commons.

The Conservatives would win just 155 seats, down from the 365 seats they won at the 2019 general election.

The analysis, which uses the multi-level regression and poststratification (MRP) method of polling, found that prominent Tory figures including Jeremy Hunt, Penny Mordaunt, Sir Iain Duncan Smith, and Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg would be on course to lose their seats.

According to the pollsters, Rishi Sunak is heading for a worse result than John Major’s 1997 defeat, when the then-Tory leader won a total of 165 seats.

Expand article logo Continue reading
Sir Keir Starmer is, meanwhile, on course to win a victory on par with that of Tony Blair’s in his first term of office.

In 1997, the party’s longest-serving prime minister won 418 of the available 659 Commons seats.

Other big Tory figures at risk of losing their seats include Cabinet members Michelle Donelan, the Science Secretary, and Welsh Secretary David TC Davies.

The model is based on vote intention data collected and analysed by YouGov from 18,761 British adults interviewed from March 7-27.

The Reform Party, led by Richard Tice, was found to have a growing share of the voting intention by YouGov.

It is not predicted to win any seats, and while it places second in 36 constituencies, it is not close to winning them.

The Lib Dems are meanwhile on course to grow their parliamentary comeback, with a projected win of 49 seats.

North of the border, YouGov estimates that Labour will be the largest party in Scotland.

They are projected to win 28 Scottish seats, followed by the SNP with 19.

The Lib Dems and Conservatives would win five each under the modelling.

The Green Party would continue to hold Brighton Pavilion according to the polling, the seat currently held by Caroline Lucas – who is standing down at the election.

The party is also a close second to Labour in the newly created Bristol Central seat.

In Wales, Plaid Cymru is expected to win a total of four seats, including the proposed Caerfyrddin constituency.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/labour-would-win-154-seat-majority-if-election-held-tomorrow-pollsters-find/ar-BB1l12q1?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=04fb362b754a49c0b24add515983f083&ei=13

[MGR1]

Not politics, but I wonder if this might be the beginning of the end for Balmoral as Royal Residence:

Would you pay £150 for tea and a tour at Balmoral? (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crg661z27pno)

Let's face it, it's a shooting estate with naff-all else to it. I can see William not being too keen to be closely associated with something that's now viewed as being a bit passé. Particularly when you factor in his charity work.

For all we know, Kate might be the same as Diana and hates the place.:hmmm:

Mike.

[Moonlight]

Well Charlie is going to open it up to the public isn't he?, he's never let the grass grow under his feet when there's money to be made. Balmoral should be given to the Scottish government to do with as they want, if that means tearing it down well, so be it.

[Jimbuna]

‘Might as well have stayed with Labour!’ Lee Anderson blasts ‘socialists in disguise’ for ‘destroying’ Tories

Lee Anderson has blamed One Nation Tories for the ‘destruction’ of the Conservative Party while making the staggering assertion that he ‘might as well’ have remained with the Labour Party.

The Reform MP last month opted to defect to Richard Tice’s party after being suspended by the Conservatives.

The party removed the whip from Anderson after he refused to apologise for claims Islamists had ‘control’ of London mayor Sadiq Khan, a decision he lamented in a GB News interview with Martin Daubney.

A new YouGov poll suggests things could be about to get a lot worse for the Tories with a forecast of over 400 seats for Labour at the next General Election.

The Reform MP told GB News: “There's that arrogance and I think they're getting a little bit concerned now and it's unfortunate because there are still some good Tories in the Conservative Party, some good Tory MPs who I'm still friends with who will probably lose their seats at the next election.

“Then there's some MPs who are not so good, a little bit wet, the One Nation lot, who I think have destroyed the Conservative Party.

“The One Nation lot are actually worse than what the Labour Party are, because they're just socialists in disguise...they're not talking about stuff that we talk about, the common-sense stuff, they hate talking about migration, illegal and legal migration.”

In a discussion with Martin Daubney, he continued: “When I moved the Reform party, or should I say when the whip was taken off me, I had lots of councillors contacting me, Conservative councillors from around the country saying they weren't standing again, they were resigning their membership.

“They're fed up, they’re not going to vote Conservative at the next election as well.

“So, that's the sort of place the party is in at the moment.

“It’s very sad because I've got a lot to thank the Conservative Party for.

“They gave me a political home but unfortunately that home wasn't the home I thought it was going to be. I might as well have stayed in the Labour Party. There’s no difference.”

Asked if Reform was splitting the Tory vote, he said: “You could say that the Conservative Party is splitting the vote. There's a lot of anger out there about the two-party politics…

“It's the same old song being chirped out by both political parties. They do not listen to the public and people, quite frankly, have had enough and the Reform party gives people an alternative.”

He went on to suggest there is no difference between the two parties who will be warring for power at the election, expected to take place later this year.

“The Labour Party and the Conservative Party are both out of touch, they need to get out more”, he said.

“They need to spend some time on the ground talking to real people. You can talk about the migrant crisis, you can talk about net zero, you can talk about anything, really.

“They’re completely out of touch.”
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/other/might-as-well-have-stayed-with-labour-lee-anderson-blasts-socialists-in-disguise-for-destroying-tories/ar-BB1l1P8d?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=a04afc11e6ec489d84e2d4a0397b4056&ei=12

[Jimbuna]

Now seven in ten Scots want to see the back of 'divisive' Humza

Seven in ten Scots want Humza Yousaf and his cabinet out of office after ‘years of division and decline’, a new poll has revealed.

An overwhelming majority of Scots believe that a ‘fresh team of leaders’ is needed – while only a third think the SNP deserves to be re-elected.

Participants in the Ipsos poll were asked if they agreed the SNP deserved to be returned to power and also whether they agreed that fresh leadership is needed.

Nearly half – 46 per cent – wanted a new government at Holyrood as they did not think the SNP deserved re-election, and around a quarter – 23 per cent – were unsure.

Only 12 per cent thought the present leadership should stay while 70 per cent believed it should be replaced.

And fewer than 30 per cent agreed that ‘competent’ was an accurate way to describe the Scottish Government, whilst 46 per cent said they did not agree.

On specific policy areas, there have also been declines in how the public view the SNP’s handling of the NHS, education and living standards since Mr Yousaf took over as First Minister in March last year.

More than half (56 per cent) now believe the Scottish Government is doing a bad job at improving the NHS.

Only 23 per cent said it was doing a good job at boosting living standards for those on low incomes and just 24 per cent backed the job being done in improving education.

Scottish Tory chairman Craig Hoy said: ‘This damning poll shows Scots know the SNP’s independence obsession has been to the neglect of key public services.

‘Humza Yousaf and his colleagues have had their eye off the ball and have failed to tackle Scotland’s real priorities, with their constant push to break up the UK.’

Ipsos also looked at how Scots feel about the UK Government. It found 68 per cent don’t agree the Conservatives deserve another term in power and 87 per cent think Britain needs new leaders.

Asked if Labour are ready to form the next Holyrood administration, 36 per cent of voters disagreed, with 34 per cent agreeing, while the rest were unsure.

Ipsos surveyed 1,040 Scots between March 15 and March 26. Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: ‘It’s clear the vast majority of Scots want change after years of division and decline under the SNP and the Tories.

‘Almost half of Scots trust Labour to form the next government. Change is possible and we are ready to deliver it.’

A spokesman for the First Minister said: The Scottish Government is working to deliver for the people of Scotland.

We have frozen council tax, our fair income tax policy is helping lift 100,000 children out of poverty and health service investment is seeing a record number of junior doctors join the NHS.’
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/now-seven-in-ten-scots-want-to-see-the-back-of-divisive-humza/ar-BB1l5TsX?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=90b3f7e67fd046c2bff7449987febaa4&ei=72#image=1

[Moonlight]

You'll know if that poll's right if they give him the boot at the next GE, truth be told the whole party need to be booted out, a lot of scots are too far gone in the head to make that correct decision though.

[Jimbuna]

It took the Scots a long time to get sick of the poison dwarf but this guy seems to be breaking all previous popularity records.

[Jimbuna]

https://i.postimg.cc/W1LQ5vwz/Untitled.jpg (https://postimg.cc/tYkSg8fG)
https://i.postimg.cc/HkwFKh62/Untitleda.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[MGR1]

Considering I have no time for the SNP or Reform UK, who's worse?

Scotland and the SNP or England and Reform UK?

Not much difference from where I'm sitting.

Mike.:hmmm:

[Jimbuna]

I doubt it matters very whoever gets in after the election but I'd like to see Labour given a turn in the hope I'll be paying fewer taxes on my pensions.

[Jimbuna]

https://i.postimg.cc/3xfTm55W/Untitled.jpg (https://postimg.cc/HrMR1NLC)
https://i.postimg.cc/DzWKcjn6/Untitledb.jpg (https://postimg.cc/NywVsxy2)
https://i.postimg.cc/Zq1zs8qS/Untitledc.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[Moonlight]

Judy Murray backs JK Rowling in trans rights row: Tennis coach voices her support after author warned against 'dismantling' women's rights to 'accommodate trans-identified men' in 709-word social media post

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13283123/Judy-Murray-backs-JK-Rowling-author-warned-dismantling-womens-rights-accommodate-trans-identified-men.html

How did this load of crap turn our politicians into nervous wrecks and retards, the House of Commons is always standing with someone, well, stand behind JK Rowling, and be right for once in your bleeding lives.

All this Transgender nonsense has always been a load of bollocks, it's a shame that most women are not showing some, STOP being an Emma Watson and START being a JK ROWLING, she's the only one who consistently shows any Common Sense on this subject.

I don't even know why people are debating this, a Man is a Man and a Woman is a Woman, I've been told it's a Biological Medical Fact and no amount of surgery is going to change that Fact.

[Jimbuna]

Tory MP William Wragg gives MPs blackmail advice in resurfaced clip

Tory MP William Wragg gives MPs blackmail advice two years before his honeytrap sexting scandal, in a resurfaced clip.

Mr Wragg said MPs should report matters to the speaker and the Metropolitan Police if being blackmailed, as he addressed Parliament in the 2022 clip.

Westminster has since been rocked by the sensational exposé of a honeytrap sexting scam targeting MPs, political journalists and parliamentary staffers.

Mr Wragg revealed he lay at the heart of the scandal, admitting that he shared his colleagues’ phone numbers for fear of intimate images of him being leaked.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/tory-mp-william-wragg-gives-mps-blackmail-advice-in-resurfaced-clip/ar-BB1lfAVe?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=75d5aaa2e57243c4a3b8dd25a4a890a8&ei=19

[MGR1]

Rowling's decided she wants to be a "Martyr to the Cause", nothing more.:doh:

She's an extremist as bad as those on the opposite side of the LGBTQ debate. Not much to choose between them, IMHO.

I've never liked the Harry Potter series anyway. Terry Pratchett did it much better.:up:

Mike.

[Jimbuna]

Labour vows to fund NHS pledges by tackling tax dodgers

Labour is pledging to fund policies on the NHS and school breakfast clubs by boosting efforts to tackle tax dodgers.

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves says plans to give more money to tax officials would help raise £5bn a year.

The party had to find a way to plug the gap in its spending commitments after the government adopted its plan to scrap non-dom tax status.

It says it will also raise £2.6bn by closing "loopholes" in the government's plans to abolish non-dom exemptions.

Non-doms are UK residents whose permanent home for tax purposes is abroad, meaning they do not have to pay UK tax on money they earn overseas.

If it wins power, Labour said it would scrap a proposed 50% discount on the tax non-doms would have to pay in the first year of the new rules.

It said all foreign assets held in offshore trusts would also be subject to UK inheritance tax, while the government has said those held in a trust set up before April 2025 would be excluded from inheritance tax permanently.

Ms Reeves insisted she was "confident" her plans would raise the amount Labour had estimated.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, she denied the sums were "small change" compared to the potential cuts facing public services, saying Labour's plans for the NHS and schools would make "a massive difference to millions of people".

The government said it had already brought in 200 measures to tackle tax non-compliance.

Treasury Minister Laura Trott said: "After a month of searching for a plan to pay for Labour's unfunded spending, the shadow chancellor still cannot say how she will fill the enormous black hole in their promises. And that means one thing - more taxes."

There have been several previous attempts to close the gap between what the economy should be producing in tax and what is actually received.

Treasury Minister Laura Trott said: "After a month of searching for a plan to pay for Labour's unfunded spending, the shadow chancellor still cannot say how she will fill the enormous black hole in their promises. And that means one thing - more taxes."

There have been several previous attempts to close the gap between what the economy should be producing in tax and what is actually received.

Budget leaves Labour seeking savings to fund pledges
What are non-doms and how are the rules changing
How much will the 2p National Insurance cut save me?
Labour had been planning to pay for flagship pledges - including £365m for free school breakfast clubs and £1.6bn for more hospital and dental appointments - by replacing the UK's current non-dom tax regime.

However at his spring Budget, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said he would change the non-dom tax rules to pay for a cut to National Insurance.

Labour has a self-imposed rule that, if elected, it will not borrow to fund day-to-day spending and following Mr Hunt's non-doms announcement the party faced questions as to how it would fund its existing promises.

Now, Ms Reeves has set out her alternative plan, which also includes strengthening the government's proposed replacement of non-dom rules.

The party says these changes could bring in £1bn in one year, rising to £2.6bn over the course of the next Parliament.

Ms Reeves said her party would also give the HM Revenues and Customs (HMRC) more resources to tackle tax avoidance and evasion, spending £555m on increasing the number of tax officers.

It also wants to invest in digitising the tax office to improve customer services and "free up resources to focus on more complex cases".
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68762802

[Jimbuna]

https://i.postimg.cc/4y6vcmZz/Untitled.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
https://i.postimg.cc/mZCyJ6Mt/Untitledb.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[Jimbuna]

UK foreign aid spending on asylum seekers rises again

More than a quarter of all UK overseas aid was spent on asylum costs at home last year, new figures show.

The Foreign Office statistics reveal £4.3bn of its foreign aid budget went on supporting refugees and asylum seekers in the UK.

That represents a 16% increase from the £3.7bn that was spent in 2022.

The government said it had spent £15bn on development last year, including on humanitarian aid in Gaza and had had doubled spending in poorer countries.

But critics say the government has "lost its grip" by allowing the Home Office to use UK foreign aid budgets, weakening crisis prevention schemes.

Labour's shadow international development minister Lisa Nandy said it "beggars belief" that the government was using the overseas aid budget to "bail out their failing asylum system with a blank cheque".

She said: "This is sticking plaster politics at its worst, terrible value for money for British taxpayers and is no way to run the development budget or the Home Office."

Under current aid rules, the government can spend overseas assistance on what are called "in donor refugee costs" for the first year that an asylum seeker is in the UK.

Charities and the government's aid watchdog criticised ministers for allowing aid spending to rise in the UK at the expense of helping the poorest people overseas.

Much of the £4.3bn is spent by the Home Office (about £2.9bn), mostly on housing for asylum seekers. The rest covers education, health and other social needs.

The UK's overall aid budget in 2023 had risen by £2.6bn since the previous year, taking the total to £15.4bn, data published by the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) showed.

However, less money was spent on the FCDO's overseas bilateral aid commitments - £4.1bn - than on asylum seekers in the UK, the same data showed.

And the UK's bilateral spending on humanitarian assistance fell from £1.1bn in 2022 to £888m in 2023.

The official watchdog of government aid spending, the Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI), said it had continuing concerns about value for money and allowing the Home Office to spend "an unlimited amount" on hosting asylum seekers at the expense of the FCDO's budget is "cutting across the normal lines of accountability".

Tamsyn Barton, the ICAI's chief commissioner, added: "What's more, using so much of the aid budget on UK asylum hotels, rather than on supporting people nearer home, is inequitable and inefficient."

A government spokesperson said the UK had spent £15bn on development last year, including on humanitarian aid in Gaza.

"We are also nearly doubling our spend in low-income countries this financial year," they added.

"Last year's budget was boosted by additional funding to support refugees in the UK, who have escaped oppression and conflict overseas, including from Ukraine and Afghanistan.

"We will continue to ensure our aid budget delivers value for money for British taxpayers."

Separately, Home Secretary James Cleverly has announced about 150 asylum seeker hotels will close by May and the closure process will continue "until the last hotel is closed".

The Home Office spent about £8m every day last year on such accommodation, with more than 56,000 asylum seekers in hotels at the end of September and about 36,000 now.

Labour's shadow immigration minister Stephen Kinnock accused the home secretary of "celebrating failure" over "asylum chaos".

"So-called 'asylum hotels' didn't exist before the Tories lost control of the asylum backlog, and Rishi Sunak promised to end them by the end of 2023," he said.

He said a Labour government would create a new cross-border police unit in partnership with Europol to "smash the criminal smuggler gangs" and introduce a new returns unit that would "remove people with no right to be here".
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68781450

[Jimbuna]

Boris Johnson brands Rishi Sunak’s policies as ‘absolutely nuts’ in scathing attack

Boris Johnson has attacked Rishi Sunak’s smoking policy as “nuts” as he criticised the state of the Conservative Party at an event in Canada.

Speaking at a gathering of conservatives in Ottawa, the former prime minister suggested his party lacked the “dynamism” of its Canadian counterparts, who appear on course to win the next election.

It has been rumoured in Westminster that Mr Johnson could return to the campaign trail at the general election this year.

But his comments to the Canada Strong and Free Networking Conference on Wednesday night appeared to make this prospect less likely as he criticised policies that were being carried out “in the name of conservatism”.

He said: “We are, on the whole, in favour of freedom and it is that single Anglo-Saxon idea of freedom that I think unites conservatives, or should unite conservatives.
“And when I look at some of the things that we are doing now, or that are being done in the name of conservatism, I think they are absolutely nuts.”

Mr Johnson singled out his successor-but-one’s policy of increasing the minimum age for buying tobacco every year in an effort to phase out smoking, which formed a major part of Mr Sunak’s speech to the Conservative Party Conference last year.

He said: “When the party of Winston Churchill wants to ban cigars, donnez-moi un break as they say in Quebec, it’s just mad.”

Mr Sunak’s flagship policy has faced criticism from the more libertarian wing of his party, and is expected to be the subject of a free vote when MPs debate the legislation for the first time on April 16.

But with backing from the Labour Party, internal opposition from Conservatives is unlikely to derail the plans.

Speaking ahead of the introduction of the Bill last month, Mr Sunak said: “If we want to build a better future for our children we need to tackle the single biggest entirely preventable cause of ill-health, disability and death: smoking.”

The law proposed by the Prime Minister would prevent anyone who is turning 15 this year, or younger, from ever being able to legally buy tobacco products.

A similar law had been due to come into effect in New Zealand in July, but was repealed by the country’s new coalition government in February.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/boris-johnson-brands-rishi-sunak-s-policies-as-absolutely-nuts-in-scathing-attack/ar-BB1lrsrA?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=f4cbee8de74a4a1393e77dcbc7a9ced3&ei=39

[Jimbuna]

Police investigate Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner over council house sale

Greater Manchester Police have launched an investigation into Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner over the sale of her council house.

She has been accused of breaking electoral law by giving false information about her main residence.

Ms Rayner denies this and Labour said it remains "completely confident" she has complied with all the rules.

The police investigation has been prompted by a complaint from Tory MP James Daly.

A police spokesperson said: "We're investigating whether any offences have been committed. This follows a reassessment of the information provided to us by Mr Daly."

Mr Daly, the MP for Bury North, is understood to have made police aware of neighbours contradicting Ms Rayner's statement that a property, separate from her husband's, was her main residency.

Police initially said there would be no investigation but Mr Daley complained that officers did not appear to have looked the electoral roll and other documents.

Ms Rayner, nee Bowen, bought the semi-detached home in 2007, getting a 25% discount under the Right to Buy scheme introduced by former Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

The former carer is said to have made a £48,500 profit when selling the house eight years later.

Tax experts have estimated that, while Ms Rayner may not have owed anything in Capital Gains Tax following the sale depending on her residency situation, there are circumstances in which she could have owed as much as £3,500 to HM Revenue and Customs.

The MP, who is also Labour's shadow housing secretary, was registered as living at Vicarage Road, Stockport, in Greater Manchester, on the electoral roll until she sold the property in 2015.

But she appears to have given two different addresses when she re-registered the births of two of her children in 2010 following her marriage to Mark Rayner.

The other address listed, Lowndes Lane, is where her husband was registered as living, according to reports in the Mail on Sunday.

The allegations have sprung from claims made in a book by Lord Ashcroft, a former Conservative Party deputy chairman, taken up by Mr Daly, who reported alleged issues to the police.

Separately, Mr Daly was concerned Capital Gains Tax may be due on the sale of Ms Rayner's property, as normally married couples can only have one property as their main home.

Ms Rayner has said she was not liable because it was her home and the "only one" she owned, as her then-husband "already owned his own home independently".

It is alleged that it would not be allowed for Ms Rayner and her then husband to have both avoided Capital Gains Tax when they sold these properties after they married.

Ms Rayner says she has taken expert tax advice, which she believes confirms her position that no Capital Gains Tax was payable, although she has resisted calls to publish the advice.

She insists she has done nothing wrong and has been backed by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves in recent weeks.

A Labour spokesperson said: "Angela welcomes the chance to set out the facts with the police.

"We remain completely confident that Angela has complied with the rules at all times and it's now appropriate to let the police do its work."

Conservative minister Grant Shapps said he welcomed the police looking into the issue again.

He said: "The double standards have been extraordinary, Angela Rayner herself has spent her political career calling people out for exactly the thing that she seems to be doing now.

"It's not acceptable to ignore it and it's not acceptable for Keir Starmer to say he won't even read reports into it.

"This is something which is a serious matter, it's important it's looked into properly. And I welcome the idea that the police are doing that."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68797258

[Jimbuna]

https://i.postimg.cc/DzqqPNK3/Untitled.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
https://i.postimg.cc/FRN0Wx9d/Untitledb.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[Jimbuna]

Humza Yousaf branded 'deeply and increasingly unpopular' after new poll blow

Humza Yousaf's popularity has plunged with both SNP supporters and the public, new polling shows.

In a blow to the Scottish First Minister, the survey by Norstat found just 29% of SNP voters said he is doing a good job compared with 36% who said he is doing badly giving him a net score of minus seven.

It marks a major drop since January when he had a net rating of 14 and comes after a furore over controversial new hate crime laws.

Among the general public in Scotland, Mr Yousaf's net popularity score is down 15 points to minus 32.

Sir John Curtice, the polling guru and professor of politics at Strathclyde University, told the Sunday Times the polling shows the SNP leader "is deeply and increasingly unpopular".
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sawar has a net rating of minus 17, while Scottish Tory leader Douglass Ross was on minus 38.

The poll of 1,086 people aged 16 or over in Scotland found the SNP is neck and neck with Labour on 32% when it comes to Westminster voting intention.

It is the lowest score the nationalists have recorded with the polling company since the 2014 Scottish independence referendum.

The Tories are on 16%, the Lib Dems pick up 9%, while Nigel Farage-linked Reform UK is on 5%.

The pro-nationalist vote risks being split with the Greens backed by 4% and Alex Salmond's Alba Party taking 2%.

Support among Scots for breaking away from the UK stands at 47% when undecided voters are excluded, compared with 53% backing the Union in the survey carried out between April 9 and 12.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/other/humza-yousaf-branded-deeply-and-increasingly-unpopular-after-new-poll-blow/ar-BB1lAWhb?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=5fb429d74ead4c6c9173b7085a592e89&ei=17

[Jimbuna]

https://i.postimg.cc/3JZwGLFV/Untitled.jpg (https://postimg.cc/YhhkKzVz)
https://i.postimg.cc/HLrWfT11/Untitledb.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[mapuc]

Maybe the Labour should take a close look inwards instead of pointing fingers at other parties.

They have to ask them self why Tories gets more funds than they do.

Markus

[Jimbuna]

In the very broadest of terms the Tories represent the wealthy in society and Labour the working class. As some would have us believe.

[Moonlight]

Labour haven't represented the working class for 25 years or more, in fact they have had the policies of the Tory light for a decade or more, as in, wear a red coat but have a blue one under it.

[Jimbuna]

Each to their own belief I suppose but I'm very much from the old school despite the fact I'll ignore both parties in May and vote Independent.

[Jimbuna]

Humiliation for Humza Yousaf as SNP dealt huge poll blow after crushing by-election defeat


Humza Yousaf has been dealt another blow following the SNP's latest crushing defeat, with his party having dramatically dropped through the Scottish polls.

The party's favours have been crushed for the second time in less than a year after the latest by-election in the home nation revealed a massive dip in support.

The SNP was among parties jostling for the Inverness South (Highland) council seat last week, with thousands of people turning out to elect a new local councillor.

But the First Minister's candidate failed to clinch the seat, losing out to independent candidate Duncan Cameron McDonald.

While the SNP is no stranger to losing ground in Scotland, polls showed the latest defeat was particularly brutal, with the party having lost nearly 16 percentage points - trailing the Liberal Democrats in a city which has been a SNP stronghold for years.
Pollsters Britain Elects found that the SNP was one of two parties that saw a negative shift in their support.

Mr Yousaf's candidate received just 19.4 percent of the 3,305 votes, while the local Conservatives received 16.1 percent.

The result was a small 0.8 decline for the Tories, but the SNP saw a massive 15.8 percent loss in its voting share, the pollsters found. Nevertheless, it was still a top contender, placing among the parties most favoured in the running for the Inverness council seat.

The leading candidate received 22.1 percent of the vote, while the Liberal Democrats came second with 19.7 percent, leaving the SNP in third place.

The Conservatives followed, with Scottish Labour coming fourth at 11 percent and the Greens fifth with 7.2 percent of the vote.

Winning candidate Duncan McDonald told the Press and Journal: "I'm hoping it was because I was honest. That's what I want, openness and honesty.

"That's what I try to portray and that's what I told people on the doorstep. They reacted to that and voted for me."

It comes as the party leader Humza Yousaf's popularity continues heading south in the polls after the latest controversy surrounding the Scottish Government's hate crime bill. A survey by Norstat has revealed that the First Minister has fallen in popularity by 15 points since January to -32 with the general public, the Scottish Daily Express reports.

He is even struggling among his own supporters, with just 29 per cent of people who voted for the Nats at the last general election believing he is doing a good job. Some 36 per cent think he has been poor in office. This net score of -7 is a huge drop from January when he scored +14 among SNP supporters.

While it might not appear as bad as it seems, and it is important to note that local factors are often at play at council by-elections, the by-election upset comes after the SNP was dealt an embarrassing defeat at Parliamentary level in late 2023. Scotland's leading party was dealt a blow last year when it failed to secure less than half of its Labour rival's votes during October's Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election.

Scottish Labour candidate Michael Shanks clinched the seat with 17,845 votes, more than double those won by the SNP's Katy Loudon, representing a massive 20.4 percent swing.

The SNP's loss during that election was just one point different from the party's latest defeat, with Ms Loudon's 8,399 votes representing a 16.6 percent drop compared to the 2019 general election.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/other/humiliation-for-humza-yousaf-as-snp-dealt-huge-poll-blow-after-crushing-by-election-defeat/ar-BB1lFHDX?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=137871163c354d1296d2f5a3e8667748&ei=16

[Jimbuna]

Rishi Sunak made a mistake cutting NI and not income tax ahead of general election, pollster says


Aleading pollster has said Rishi Sunak made the “wrong political choice” cutting National Insurance in the spring budget, as 61 per cent of voters say there is zero per cent chance they will vote Conservative at the next election.

Director of More in Common Luke Tryl said there was only a 5 per cent chance of a Tory victory at the next election as new research by the thinktank revealed the extent of Tory woes - as voters reject key policies and the party haemmorhages support across demographics.

Polling by the thinktank shows that most voters feel that the government’s national insurance cuts won’t help them personally and would have instead favoured income tax cuts or other cost of living policies.
Only 44 per cent of voters said national insurance tax cuts would help their personal financial situation, while 40 per cent said they would not at all. Meanwhile, 65 per cent of voters thought cutting income tax would be helpful, and 77 per cent and 73 per cent thought price caps on energy and basic goods respectively would have a positive impact on their personal circumstances.

It was also revealed that six in ten voters (61 per cent) said there was a zero per cent change that they would vote for the Conservatives at the next election, with only 8 per cent saying they would definitely hand the Tories their vote.

In comparison, 46 per cent say that they would never vote for the Labour Party and 24 per cent put their chance of voting Labour at more than seven out of ten.

Mr Tryl told reporters that the results showed the Conservatives had made the “wrong political choice” in opting to cut national insurance and should instead have considered improving other policies that could have helped voters with the cost of living.

The chancellor announced a further two percentage point slash to national insurance among a series of tax cuts in his spring Budget ahead of this year’s general election, as support for the Conservative party dropped to 45-year low.

Jeremy Hunt‘s attempted to shore up support for his languishing party by unveiling the £10bn tax cut came despite warnings from the Budget watchdog that the average worker would still be hundreds of pounds worse off overall, and from economic thinktanks that the cuts would worsen economic inequalities and public services.

Significantly, the Tories have also lost their reputation as the party of pensioners as it was revealed that more people (35 per cent) think the Labour party better represents the interests of that demographic than the Conservatives (27 per cent).

Mr Tryll told the Independent that in focus groups conducted by More in Common, many pensioners were left “disappointed” by the spring statement’s focus on tax cuts for workers, with many left asking “what was in the budget for me?”

He explained that the over-70s were a key “swing group” for the Conservatives and “70 per cent of Tory to undecided voters are women and their average age is 61, so many of them are pensioners”. The Tories perceived failures to address the issues in the NHS – which came second on a list of voter priorities – has also caused the party to lose support in this group, Mr Tryl said.

Today’s damning findings will further concern the bealegued prime minister as Labour’s support rises across voter groups, including within the red wall, which was widely viewed as the backbone of the Conservative’s 2019 general election success.

Keir Starmer is now 18-points ahead of Rishi Sunak amongst red wall voters over the question of would make a better prime minister. Though Mr Sunak still maintains more support than Sir Keir in traditional rural Tory voting areas, Mr Tryl warned that the prime minister will struggle to “appeal” to lost 2019 voters because he is not trusted on issues such as cost of living and the NHS.

According to the research, 51 per cent of voters would describe the prime minister as “out of touch” compared to just 21 per cent of voters who attributed the descriptor to Keir Starmer. The majority of voters also agreed that Labour best represents the interests of working class people (53 per cent) and their families (51 per cent). This was down to 15 per cent and 17 per cent for the Conservatives respectively.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/rishi-sunak-made-a-mistake-cutting-ni-and-not-income-tax-ahead-of-general-election-pollster-says/ar-BB1lIcjf?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=a275266df3284db9a41edde20ef03b0c&ei=35

[Jimbuna]

The first cuckoo in spring – Liz Truss has ‘unfinished business’

Liz Truss is opposed to the ban on cigarettes. But has she been smoking toad venom? (Now

available in vape form, as we reported last week.) As one of the most hallucinogenic substances known to humankind, it would explain her new promotional tour.

Yes, we all know Truss is flogging a book and trying to reinvent herself as a libertarian warrior in America. However, she’s showing the self-awareness of a cactus.

The shortest-serving prime minister in Britain’s history – who was lucky to last 49 days – has a new narrative for why she failed: “I was undermined by organisations like the Bank of England.”

Ominously she adds: “I didn’t have enough time… I have unfinished business.”

That opinion is shared by almost no one in the rest of the country. Recent polling by Ipsos suggests that her ratings remain at historical lows – worse than any other senior UK politician.
Just 8 per cent of the public hold a favourable opinion of Truss, with 68 per cent unfavourable (so net -60). Sunak and Johnson are on -34 and -31 respectively, with Starmer on -11.

Truss is on standby to “save the West” and doesn’t rule out a Downing Street sequel. (Apocaliz Now?) “I’m not saying I’m perfect – nobody is perfect.”

Her tenure remains a national embarrassment – a simple and uncontroversial statement that is largely accepted across party political lines. Yet she considers herself unlucky to have lost power, the victim of a plot by dark establishment forces. Do you disagree with her? You’re part of the problem.

Truss was correct to diagnose feeble economic growth. However, her plan for solving this was irrational – the equivalent of throwing a brick into a washing machine on spin cycle.

Her unique blend of ideology, incompetence and ignorance (about Britain’s economy, and about global markets) will cost future generations many tens of billions of pounds.

So this unjustified sense of victimhood pushes public tolerance too far. She remains the Conservative Party’s greatest gift to Keir Starmer.

Yesterday, Truss popped up in the Wall Street Journal with an article denouncing “the deep state” in Britain and America.

Liz, I have bought a 10-metre roll of kitchen foil and will spend the rest of the week making hats for you. Lettuce hope sanity prevails.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/the-first-cuckoo-in-spring-liz-truss-has-unfinished-business/ar-BB1lKRVH?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=72253d69c9454daf8bcaee36087070e1&ei=13

[Jimbuna]

Whitehall spending spree makes higher taxes inevitable, warns IFS

Rising taxes are inevitable if the Government keeps spending heavily, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has warned.

Taxes are already on course to hit their highest share of GDP since 1948, according to official forecasts, although the IFS has warned recent policies could drive up levies further.

The prospect of a greater tax burden on households comes after a surge in Britain’s borrowing bill since Covid.

Martin Miklos, an economist at the IFS, said: “The increase in taxes, while historically and internationally large, has not matched the growth in spending.

“Hence, it has not been able to prevent debt from rising by more than in any other comparator country bar Japan.

“Countries can and do make very different choices about the size of their state – but choosing a higher level of spending without a commensurately higher level of taxation is not costless and is unlikely to be sustainable in the long term.”
The Government has recently cut some taxes, including the headline rate of National Insurance.

However, it has also embarked on a programme of stealth taxation by freezing thresholds, while it has already increased the corporation tax rate from 19pc to 25pc.

Decades of heavy spending have led to a significant increase in the size of the state since the turn of the century.

In 2001, government spending in Britain amounted to just under 35pc of GDP, around eight percentage points lower than the average across advanced economies.

That gap narrowed under various Labour and Conservative governments, peaking during the pandemic as it hit around half of GDP.

Following a recent fall, that figure is now expected to settle at around 43pc of GDP, which represents a permanent increase in the size of the state.

The IFS added: “Pressures on spending on areas such as health and social care are unlikely to abate any time soon.”

Rising spending requirements have coincided with a jump in Britain’s national debt bill, which has risen from a third of GDP in 2000 to more than 90pc today.

Forecasts from the International Monetary Fund show how Britain’s debt will account for almost 100pc of GDP by the end of the decade.

This comes at a time of higher interest rates and weak economic growth.

The IFS said: “The UK is now forecast to have the seventh-smallest cumulative growth among the 37 comparator countries in the period 2019–29.

“With low growth (and the era of very low interest rates seemingly having come to an end), much tighter fiscal policy is needed to get debt falling.”

A Treasury spokesman said: “Thanks to our responsible action with the public finances and our progress on the economy – with inflation falling and wages rising – we have been able to cut National Insurance by a third while sticking to our fiscal rules, with debt falling in the final year of the forecast with a larger buffer than last spring.

“The Chancellor has been clear that growing the economy and improving productivity is vital to improving public services, and that any further tax cuts will be delivered in a fiscally responsible way.”
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/whitehall-spending-spree-makes-higher-taxes-inevitable-warns-ifs/ar-BB1lMz7e?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=7562d362678d4cf6d8a0bb37c7344a87&ei=53

[Moonlight]

There's nothing about the cost of the Migrant Invasion then?, thought not, swept it under the carpet as usual have you?, everyone will pay extra taxes to pay for those scroungers, except the Migrants of course, they'll not pay a penny as usual.

[Jimbuna]

One fact is beyond any and all reasonable doubt....whatever is currently wrong with this country, the Tories having been in power for the past fourteen years and can blame nobody but themselves.

[Moonlight]

Sick note squads to crack down on workshy Brits: Rishi warns 'spiralling' benefit bill is 'unsustainable' and 'life worries' are not a reason to shun work

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13327087/Sick-note-squads-crack-workshy-Brits-Rishi-Sunak-warns-normal-life-worries-not-reason-shun-work-ministers-say-benefits-bill-skyrocketing-numbers-long-term-ill-hits-eye-watering-2-8m.html

I remember the explosion of the sicknote culture after the miners strike, Thatcher couldn't sort it out in the 80s and these politicians wont sort it out now.
Sicknotes, PiP/DLA claims are all done in the same way I've been reliably informed, it goes right back to Thatcher and John Majors days in power, from the 80s and 90s they've tried to fix it and have failed every time. Some people will always try to get a slice of something for nothing, it's human nature, assessments were always a hit and miss affair, many claimants who needed DLA didn't get the financial aid it would have provided and a lot of claimants with nothing wrong with them did, it was a disaster.
The same thing is going wrong with the sicknote brigade, most of them are taking the piss as usual and something needs to be done about it, it can't be right that people in their prime of life are experiencing mental health issues, we old gits took our knocks on the chin and just moved on with life, these pillocks today can burn their toast on a morning and have to go to bed for a week to get over it, it's ****ing madness on steroids.

Governments have tried to sort these things out before, they've had some successes but overall they've failed miserably, Thatcher, Major, Blair and Cameron all failures. One thing I do know for definite and that is Sunak wiil soon be on that list of failures as well.

[Jimbuna]

Should be fun and games then.

[Jimbuna]

Only 100? Surely theirs room for two or three times that number.

100 MPs to stand down at the next general election

The number of MPs who have said they will leave Parliament at the next general election has reached 100.

Conservative Tim Loughton, who has represented East Worthing and Shoreham since 1997, became the 100th MP to announce he was leaving the Commons.

Most - 63 in all - are Tories, and they include former prime minister Theresa May.

That said, 56% of the 650 MPs (365) who won their seats in Boris Johnson's landslide general election victory in 2019 were Conservatives.

A total of 17 Labour MPs are also standing down, along with nine from the SNP, two from Sinn Fein, one from Plaid Cymru and one Green - the party's only MP, Caroline Lucas.

Other big names departing Westminster include former deputy PM Dominic Raab, COP26 president Sir Alok Sharma, and former deputy Labour leaders Dame Margaret Beckett and Harriet Harman. Dame Margaret also served as foreign secretary.

Another seven MPs who now sit as independents - five elected as Conservatives and two as Labour MPs - also won't be standing again.

With the next election not needing to be held until January 2025 - and the prime minister pointing to it happening some time in the autumn - the total figure may well grow substantially.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68839793

[Moonlight]

^The career politicians days are looking numbered it would seem, that gives me an idea, the same thing should happen to the Lords, two or three parliaments at maximum and start pulling their name out of a hat, thankyou for your service now **** off you currant.
A fitting end me thinks, they could even sell tickets and televise it all, who wouldn't want to make some money out of getting rid of a tosser who never deserved to be in the Lords in the first place.

[Jimbuna]

I can't believe just how way out of touch Rishi is with actual reality.

Not everyone has personal wealth in excess of £700 million.

Rishi Sunak facing Tory revolt over plan to criminalise rough sleeping

Rishi Sunak is facing a Tory revolt over plans to criminalise homelessness in a key crime bill this year.

The prime minister risks a backbench rebellion when MPs vote on the Criminal Justice Bill, which would give police the power to fine or move “nuisance” rough sleepers.

Dozens of MPs from the left and right of the Conservative Party are said to have warned Tory whips they will vote against measures in the bill.

Senior government sources told The Times they had “paused” the legislation while ministers negotiated with more than 40 expected rebels.

“The government is panicking about the scale of the rebellion because they know if it gets pushed to a vote they will lose,” one said.

The rebel added: “But we’re not backing down or giving way. The ball is in the government’s court. They need to listen or it will be desperate for them.”

A minister on Monday refused to say whether he would support the plans to criminalise rough sleeping.

Asked by Times Radio whether he would back the bill as it stands, business minister Kevin Hollinrake said: “Those things are not within my auspices. I will be interested to see the legislation as it goes through and what the prime minister has planned.”

Asked if it was right to arrest someone for so-called nuisance rough sleeping, Mr Hollinrake said: “What is the most important thing is we provide the resources to get people off the streets and there should be those places where people can go to.

“I don’t think that should be... that shouldn’t be optional for people, if there are places that people can go to off the streets then those people should be off the streets, they shouldn’t be lying on the streets. It is not fair to other people in our town and city centres.”

The plans as they stand would grant police and local authority workers new powers to order beggars to move on while encouraging them to make use of accommodation services and mental health support.

Another new offence will be created for criminal gangs organising begging networks, and a government release said people causing “nuisance on the street” would be moved on, pointing in particular at those “obstructing shop doorways and begging by cash points”.

Homelessness charities have warned the government measures intended to replace the 200-year-old Vagrancy Act which criminalised all rough sleeping will instead result in the “further criminalisation” of homeless people.

Polly Neate, chief executive of the charity Shelter, said: “Parliament must not enact this legislation. Instead of punishing people for being homeless, politicians should be trying to prevent them from ending up on the streets.

“Everyone at risk of sleeping rough should have a right to suitable emergency accommodation, and to end homelessness for good it must invest in genuinely affordable social homes – we need 90,000 a year.”

Fiona Colley, director of social change at Homeless Link, said she was “disappointed” by the plan.

“Homelessness is not a crime,” she said. “When the government committed to repealing the Vagrancy Act it was done with an understanding that people sleeping on our streets need to be supported, not criminalised.

“Therefore, we are extremely disappointed to see that this new plan will result in further criminalisation of vulnerable people, rather than offering the constructive solutions that work in helping people off the streets for good.”

The Liberal Democrats called on the government to back down on the plans to criminalise homelessness. MP Layla Moran, who led a cross-party campaign to scrap the Vagrancy Act, said: “The heartless proposals in the Criminal Justice Bill risk bringing back the Vacancy Act by the back door.

“The government should listen to their own backbenchers and take a compassionate approach to tackling homelessness, instead of stigmatising and criminalising rough sleepers.

“Sleeping rough is not a lifestyle choice. Ministers should focus on tackling the root causes of this crisis, not scapegoating the victims of it.”

A government spokesperson said: “We are determined to end rough sleeping and prevent people from ending up on the streets in the first place. That is why last year we published our strategy to end rough sleeping for good, backed by an unprecedented £2bn commitment.

“No one should be criminalised for simply having nowhere to live, which is why we committed to repealing the outdated Vagrancy Act, which was passed in 1824.

“These provisions provide a civil route to engage with rough sleepers to help them to take up offers of support and only criminalise any non-compliance with a lawfully made direction, notice or order.”
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/rishi-sunak-homelessness-criminalisation-b2521481.html

[Jimbuna]

'Get Humza OUT!' Pro-Union demonstrators rally against SNP as Scottish nationalists demand new referendum

Scottish unionists have hit back at pro-independence demonstrators in Glasgow, as thousands of people gathered in the city centre.

Campaign group Believe in Scotland took to the streets of the city on Saturday as the event saw First Minister Humza Yousaf and Scottish Greens MSP Ross Greer in attendance as speakers.

The rally was stormed by unionists who believe the protesters are "still going on about" the referendum vote in 2014, and "can't accept" the result.

Speaking to GB News, protesters at the independence march shared their frustrations with the Believe in Scotland rally.

Revealing why they decided to ambush the independence march in Glasgow, one unionist told GB News: "I'm here to object against the independence march still going ahead, because they haven't accepted our vote in 2014.
"In actual fact, one day after the vote and saying they would accept it, they started objecting to it and they are still going on about it."

Another unionist said she wants Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf to "get out" of power, as he attended the rally alongside the pro-independence protesters.

One other protester in favour of Scotland remaining as a union with the UK said the independence rally was "ridiculous", and that she was in attendance against the march "on behalf of my nana".

Many unionists waved Union Flags in the city centre, flooding the event's prominent blue sea of Saint Andrew's Cross flags.

Speaking to pro-independence protesters at the event, two Scottish residents were furious with their country still being a part of the union.

One lady told GB News: "Well it's our country, we want it back, thank you very much! We've been a colony for over 300 years, we get nothing back.

"Everything gets taken from us and goes to the south. And they give us pocket money back, I don't think that's very fair."

She continued: "As a country, we are one of the richest countries in the world, so why can't we control our own money and our own destiny?"

Another protester in favour of Scotland's independence raged: "Scotland is not British. The union was never a voluntary arrangement.

"It was bought and paid for by a handful of Scottish nobles. And the ordinary people absolutely never wanted the Union."
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/other/get-humza-out-pro-union-demonstrators-rally-against-snp-as-scottish-nationalists-demand-new-referendum/ar-AA1nmezw?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=a6b7e09dc6f3469c8895a2c0f591bf6b&ei=13

[Jimbuna]

Fury as Rishi Sunak 'makes keeping kids poor his political priority' with two-child benefit cap

Rishi Sunak has been accused of making children poor his "political priority" after he pledged to keep a "nasty" benefit cap.

The Prime Minister said the Tory manifesto will include a vow to keep the controversial two-child benefit cap in place. Campaigners argue that lifting it would pull a quarter of a million children out of poverty, with pressure mounting on Keir Starmer to scrap it if he gets into Downing Street.

The policy, introduced by the Conservatives in 2017, limits the benefits that parents on Universal Credit are entitled to - costing families upwards of £3,200 a year. Alison Garnham, chief executive of the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) said: “With child poverty at a record high, the prime minister has now clearly decided that making kids poor is his political priority.
"After Covid and the cost of living crisis, struggling families need a helping hand not another kick in the teeth. The two-child limit makes life harder for kids, punishing them for having brothers and sisters.

"It’s time to scrap this nasty policy.” Writing in the Sun on Sunday the PM said: “Working families do not see their incomes rise when they have more children. Families on benefits should be asked to make the same financial decisions as those supporting themselves solely through work.”

Research by the End Child Poverty Coalition (ECPC) found that single parents with very young children and families with at least one disabled child are among the worst hit. Last year Mr Starmer said Labour will not be changing the policy if it wins the election. That position is understood to be unchanged.

That is despite deputy leader Angela Rayner having described the cap as "obscene and inhumane". In a statement campaign group the Children's Prosperity Plan called on Labour to reverse its position if the Tories refuse. It said: "The Prime Minister’s pledge to retain the two-child benefit cap underscores a continuation of a policy that unfairly limits crucial support for many families across the UK.

"This position, which could prevent 250,000 children from escaping poverty, highlights the urgent need for opposition parties, particularly Labour, to commit to abolishing this cap." It went on: "Political leaders must prioritise actions that put children first."

Katie Schmuecker, Principal Policy Adviser at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, said: "Committing to keeping the two child limit is committing to pushing more children into poverty. Children shouldn’t be punished for having siblings and the two child limit is a driver of rising poverty rates for larger families.

"All parties need to instead commit to addressing the adequacy of our social security system. It’s not right that in a country like ours children are growing up in families that can't afford enough food or basic toiletries. At the very least our social security system should cover the essentials.”

Analysis by the ECPC earlier this month found 422,000 households which claim benefits lost out as a result of the cap. An estimated 1.5million kids - one in 10 children - live in a home affected by the policy, it found.

Economists believe it would cost less than £2billion to remove the cap. Doing so would lift 300,000 children out of poverty and dramatically improve things for 800,000 more, the ECPC said.

Research by think-tank the Resolution Foundation found affected families lose up to around £3,200 a year in benefit support for their third and each subsequent child.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/fury-as-rishi-sunak-makes-keeping-kids-poor-his-political-priority-with-two-child-benefit-cap/ar-AA1nnSiV?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=62c3ad1150ae4d0ce207e6e14e6f3708&ei=59

[Moonlight]

READY FOR TAKEOFF Rishi says ‘nothing will stand in the way’ of getting Rwanda flights off the ground after ‘landmark’ bill passes

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/27480966/rishi-hails-passing-of-rwanda-bill/

This Bill has been a complete waste of time and money, for every one hundred migrants sent to Rwanda there'll be at least a thousand migrants still crossing the channel every week.
Its been one of Sunak's prime policies to stop the boats, even I can see that it wont have an effect on stopping them, but hey, this is our politicians we're talking about, the same political class who've consistently ****ed up every thing they've ever touched.

They wont be singing "Rule Britannia" in 20 years time they'll be singing "Allah Rules The Waves" instead, Politicians, what a bleeding useless set of Currants they are.

Political Rating 0.5\10

[Jimbuna]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HxvO6etQIE

And still it won't deter them.

[Moonlight]

Ah, but the benefits are a tremendous draw to the scroungers.

[Jimbuna]

Tis the children I mainly feel sorry for.

[Jimbuna]

Well he would say that wouldn't he.

Rwanda policy ‘unworkable and morally repugnant’ – Yousaf

Scotland’s First Minister has described the UK Government’s newly-passed Rwanda Bill as “unworkable and morally repugnant” after five people died just hours after its passage.

Following a late sitting of Parliament and a wrangle between the Commons and the House of Lords, the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration Bill) was passed into law, deeming the African country an appropriate place to send some asylum seekers.

The Prime Minister said this week charter planes are expected to leave in 10-12 weeks, with “multiple flights a month” due to depart the UK.

Humza Yousaf told journalists he would “hope to resist” attempts for planes to take off from Scottish airfields, though it is not clear if this is likely.
Speaking at the opening of a new JP Morgan office in Glasgow, Mr Yousaf hit out at the policy.

“It’s unworkable and it’s morally repugnant,” he said.

“It’s a further demonstration of how the values of Westminster are not Scotland’s values.”

Mr Yousaf went on to say the deaths of three men, a woman and a girl during a crossing of the Channel on Tuesday shows “what we need is not unworkable legislation like the Rwanda Bill”.

He added: “What you need to do is to create safe, legal routes for migration and that hopefully deters the illegal migration that none of us, of any political party. want to see.”

Asked how he would react to the use of airstrips north of the border to take asylum seekers to Rwanda, the First Minister said: “I would hope to resist that, if it was possible to do so.

“We should be a country, as we have been for not just years but for decades, that ensures that we give sanctuary to those that are fleeing persecution, war, extreme poverty.”

He added the UK has “benefited from migration for many, many years”.

This Government is doing everything we can to end this trade, stop the boats and ultimately break the business model of the evil people smuggling gangs

James Cleverley, Home Secretary
Speaking to journalists as he made his way to Poland, Rishi Sunak said the tragedy in the Channel on Tuesday morning shows the need for a deterrent to stop people attempting the treacherous crossings.

He said: “We want to prevent people making these very dangerous crossings. If you look at what’s happening, criminal gangs are exploiting vulnerable people. They are packing more and more people into these unseaworthy dinghies.

“We’ve seen an enormous increase in the numbers per boat over the past few years.

“This is what tragically happens when they push people out to sea and that’s why, for matters of compassion more than anything else, we must actually break this business model and end this unfairness of people coming to our country illegally.”

Meanwhile, Home Secretary James Cleverley posted on X, formerly Twitter, that “these tragedies have to stop”.

He added: “I will not accept a status quo which costs so many lives.

“This Government is doing everything we can to end this trade, stop the boats and ultimately break the business model of the evil people smuggling gangs, so they no longer put lives at risk.”
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/rwanda-policy-unworkable-and-morally-repugnant-yousaf/ar-AA1nwu2w?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=c17cbb7dd3a74f9cfc2b809bd2690099&ei=10

[Moonlight]

SNP sparks chaos in Scotland by killing off coalition with Greens to avoid being 'dumped' in row over environment and trans policies as Humza Yousaf is accused of 'political cowardice' by former ally and Tories push for confidence vote in his leadership

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13349521/SNP-sparks-chaos-Scotland-killing-coalition-Greens-Humza-Yousaf.html

Devolution has been a disaster from the very beginning for Scotland, you can't run a country with amateur politicians not fit to run a bath, someone needs to stand up and say "Enough is Enough". They're on the edge of the abyss, much more of this bollocks and they'll be over it. :o

[Jimbuna]

Either way it'll be a close call.

How big a threat to Humza Yousaf is a no-confidence vote?

Scotland's first minister, Humza Yousaf, is facing a no-confidence vote after the collapse of his party's agreement with the Scottish Greens.

Mr Yousaf hopes to continue in power, leading a minority government at Holyrood, after deciding that the partnership with the Greens has "served its purpose".

But Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross has described him as a "lame duck" first minister and says he will lodge a no-confidence motion.

So what happens next - and how big a threat is this for Mr Yousaf?

The SNP have 63 MSPs who can presumably be counted on to support Mr Yousaf and vote against the motion.

The Scottish Conservatives, Scottish Labour and the Scottish Lib Dems have 57 MSPs between them who will likely back it.

The Scottish Greens have also now announced their seven MSPs will back the no-confidence vote – so it all depends on the sole Alba MSP Ash Regan.

Ms Regan is a former SNP MSP who defected to Alba - which is led by Alex Salmond - after finishing third behind Mr Yousaf and Kate Forbes in last year's SNP leadership contest.

If she was to either abstain or vote in favour of the motion, it would be enough to see the no-confidence vote carried.

But if she sided with the SNP, it would result in a 64-64 tie.

In that scenario, the presiding officer casts a deciding vote, which by tradition is always for the status quo - meaning Humza Yousaf would win the confidence vote.

Ms Regan is therefore in a strong bargaining position to strike a deal with the SNP in return for her support.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3g8dwn01gno

[Moonlight]

When Ms Regan left the party Useless Yousaf put the boot in and said that its "No Great Loss", what do you call a politician without any foresight?, a "Dickhead"?, it's not the correct answer but it sounds too good to leave out.
Now the boots on the foot of Ms Regan, is she going to kick him in the balls or is she going to be like any other woman who's been scorned and and slice those balls off, what ever she does a lot depends on this Transgender Bollocks he's supporting.
Ms Regan has become the new "King Maker" we shall see just how Ruthless or Weak a politician she is, might I remind Ms Regan that Yousaf wouldn't hesitate to deliver the killing blow if the boot was on his foot, isn't Karma a bitch Yousaf?.

This is why politics can be interesting, Yousaf dismissed Ash Regan as inconsequential, well he won't be calling her that this morning, Ash is Ms Regan's first name and it could be what's left of Yousaf's political career next week. I'm almost sure that the SNP are going to suffer badly at the next Election, I can even see their reign teetering on the edge of a cliff as well. :O:

[Jimbuna]

Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf has spoken at an event in Dundee as he fights for his political future ahead of a no confidence vote.

He says he will not be announcing his resignation.

The first minister says he is confident he can win the no confidence vote.

A power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens was scrapped by the first minister yesterday leading to bitter words from the party that had supported the SNP-led Scottish government for three years.

The Scottish Tories plan a vote of no confidence in the first minister and Scottish Labour have now said they plan a similar vote on the entire Scottish government..

The votes cannot happen until next week.

==============================================

But on the other hand.

Regan 'relishes' chance to look at ways to work with SNP government

As we have been reporting, Alba's Ash Regan wrote to First Minister Humza Yousaf on Thursday after he announced the scrapping of the Bute House agreement.

She says her letter centred around progressing independence, women and children’s rights, and competent governance.

“I would relish the opportunity to sit down and talk through these areas and see if there are areas where we might be able to agree and work together,” Regan adds.

She also says she hopes that there might be an opportunity to speak to the Scottish government about accepting the recommendations of the Cass review into gender identity services.

[Moonlight]

Meet Lord Shameless! SNP outcry as former leader Ian Blackford asks the Tories and Labour to hand him a seat in House of Lords

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13357747/Meet-Lord-Shameless.html

The SNP’s policy is to abolish the Lords, so what the hell is Blackford up to?, he'll have some questions to answer from the SNP hierarchy as they wont condone this breach of protocol.
Maybe he' knows something we don't and it's an attempt to stay on the gravy train before everything comes crashing down around the SNPs ears. I'm sure he'll have an ulterior motive up his sleeve that doesn't include the SNP or the benefit of us Little Englanders either.
There'll be a lot of mileage left in this article before its all over and done with.

[Jimbuna]

Chris Philp defends government NHS record after Dan Poulter defects to Labour

A minister has defended the government's record on the NHS, after a former Conservative MP defected to Labour.

In an exclusive interview with the BBC, Dr Dan Poulter said he could not look his NHS colleagues and patients in the eye and stay on as a Conservative MP.

Home Office Minister Chris Philp denied the Tories were deprioritising the NHS.

He added that more was being spent on the health service than at any point in history.

On the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Dr Poulter, who works part time as a consultant psychiatrist, said the health service was now "unrecognisable" from how it was before he became an MP in 2010 and "patients deserve better".

The MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich added that Labour had a "track record" of improving the NHS and could be "trusted" with the health service.

Responding to Dr Poulter's resignation, Mr Philp told the programme: "I don't accept what Dan is saying at all.

"We're now spending £165bn a year on the NHS, that's more than ever, at any point in history."

He added: "That isn't the sign of a party de-prioritising the NHS. That is a sign of a political party, the Conservatives, investing heavily in our NHS because it is a priority."

He insisted the Conservatives did value public services and was investing "record amounts of money in both education and health".

Mr Philp also argued NHS waiting lists were now coming down despite the challenges of the pandemic and strike action.

Dr Poulter said he had "no animus" towards Prime Minster Rishi Sunak but was critical of the direction of his former party.

"We now have a Tory Party that resembles sometimes a little bit more a nationalist national party, rather than a party of the centre-right," he said.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68915259

[Moonlight]

In an exclusive interview with the BBC, Dr Dan Poulter said he could not look his NHS colleagues and patients in the eye and stay on as a Conservative MP.

Its took him 14 years to speak up and denounce the Tories over NHS failures?, I don't believe a word this currant says, there's a lot more going on with this story and the NHS isn't it.

[Moonlight]

Humza Yousaf 'poised to quit TODAY': SNP leader set to admit he cannot win confidence vote after extraordinary meltdown triggered by sacking Green coalition partners

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13361215/Humza-Yousaf-poised-quit-TODAY-SNP-leader-set-admit-win-confidence-vote-extraordinary-meltdown-triggered-sacking-Green-coalition-partners.html

Will Yousaf's short reign come to an end today?, and, more importantly, will the SNP circus follow him out of the door?, big decisions will be made in Scotland pretty soon and the SNP could end up being the fall guy.
Maybe Ian Blackford knew about all this and was trying to get nominations for a seat in the House of Lords so he could stay on the Gravy train, he already knew the SNP were facing big trouble from the other parties this week and decided to jump ship first.

We'll know more later today but, one thing I can say with 100% confidence and that is "Never Trust a Politician to Tell The Truth".

[MGR1]

He's gone (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-68918151).

Most likely candidates are John Swinney (if he goes for it) and Kate Forbes.

Swinney has all the charisma of a plank of wood, he's been leader of the SNP before and wasn't very good at it, nor has he been all that succesful as a minister.

About the only thing you can say about him is that he's the safe choice and the Greens are more likely to accept him.

Kate Forbes won't be accepted by the Greens. She's a West Coaster and much more socially conservative, but she was reasonably successful as Finance Minister. However, she lacks long term experience.

Mike.:hmmm:

[Jimbuna]

I doubt he'll be missed.

[Jimbuna]

Cheeky Blighters!

A plan to draft new Irish legislation which would redesignate the UK as a "safe country" to which asylum seekers can be returned has been approved.

Irish government ministers collectively approved the plan brought to Cabinet by Justice Minister Helen McEntee.

Last week she claimed more than 80% of recent asylum claims were from people who arrived in the state by crossing the border with Northern Ireland.

But the British government has said it will decide who it accepts into the UK.

The Irish government has recently expressed concern that the UK's plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda is encouraging more refugees to come to the Republic of Ireland.

Tánaiste (Irish deputy prime minister) Micheál Martin said last week that asylum seekers were seeking "sanctuary here and within the European Union as opposed to the potential of being deported to Rwanda".

On Monday, Mr Martin was asked to clarify Ms McEntee's claim that 80% of asylum seekers come to the Republic of Ireland via the land border.

He replied that it was not statistical and "not a data-based sort of evidence base" but he added it was very clear that "there's a change in the nature of where migrants have come from".

Closing a 'loophole'
The situation has been complicated by a recent Irish court ruling.

In March, the High Court in Dublin ruled that Ireland's designation of the UK as a safe third country for returning asylum seekers was contrary to EU law, external, in light of the UK's controversial Rwanda policy.

On Tuesday morning, Ms McEntee brought her proposal to the Irish Cabinet in a bid to close the "loophole" that has arisen as a result of the High Court judgement.

"What this will do is enable us to redesignate the UK as a safe country for the purposes of returns," she told reporters on her way into the Cabinet meeting.

Ms McEntee also explained that Republic of Ireland already had a post-Brexit agreement in place with the British government to return asylum seekers who had travelled to the Republic of Ireland from the UK.

However, she said that because of the Covid pandemic and the recent High Court ruling the return agreement “has not been effective”.

Ms McEntee said her proposed legislation would address the ruling and close the loophole.

No 'legal obligation' on UK
However, a Downing Street spokesperson appeared to contradict her claims about the extent of the post-Brexit agreement between the Irish and UK governments.

Number 10 conceded that there are “operational arrangements” between UK and Ireland but said there was “not a legal obligation to accept the return of asylum seekers".

The spokesperson also confirmed that "under those operational arrangements no asylum seekers have been returned to the UK".

They added: "It’s up to the UK government who we do and do not accept into the country.”

Tuesday's statement from Number 10 echoes recent comments from British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who has already said his government is "not interested" in accepting asylum seekers back from Ireland.

"We're not going to accept returns from the EU via Ireland when the EU doesn't accept returns back to France where illegal migrants are coming from," Mr Sunak told ITV.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czq588jqz8lo

[Moonlight]

Moment Monty Panesar is stumped by simple question in car-crash interview as he admits he doesn't know what NATO is despite withdrawal being his new party's top priority

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13370409/Moment-Monty-Panesar-stumped-simple-question-car-crash-interview-admits-DOESNT-know-Nato-despite-withdrawal-new-partys-priority.html

Its just typical George Galloway tactics, get all the thick migrants he can into his new political party and hopefully get them elected as an MP by even thicker migrants.

I think Westminster should have a political competence test for all MPs, not just for the new ones but for all of the thick bastards already already in there, it should also include the Lords as well, get rid of the Lords Spiritual tossers and you just might get rid of half of Westminster in one fell swoop. :haha:

[Jimbuna]

Simply put, he's an absolute knacker so he should fit in well with his mate George.

[Jimbuna]

You couldn't make this stuff up :haha:

Former Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson was turned away from his local polling station after forgetting to bring acceptable photo ID.

New rules requiring photo ID to vote were introduced by Mr Johnson's government in the Elections Act 2022.

[Moonlight]

Suella Braverman launches brutal attack on Rishi Sunak with warning he is leading Tories to electoral WIPEOUT unless party lurches Right

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13384279/Rishi-Sunak-told-shovelling-dig-Tories-deep-electoral-hole-nightmare-local-elections.html

Suella's panicking again, David Cameron would tell her to "Calm Down Dear" but Sunak hasn't got the balls to do that.

If only Sunak had been successful in stopping legal and illegal migration, that would have helped enormously in the next General Election, as it is, for every migrant who ponces off of local government its less money being spent on vital services and infrastructure.
It takes a special kind of government incompetence to turn an eighty seat majority into a potential massive deficit in five years, but three Tory Prime Ministers have done that and its edged them closer to the cliff edge as well.

I still don't see a massive surge to the red banner as yet, but who knows what's around the corner over the next 3 or 4 months, I'd ask a politician that question but they don't know what's going to happen later today never mind in 4 months.

[Moonlight]

Revealed: The '18 DEMANDS' Muslim Vote group issued to Keir Starmer after dozens of pro-Gaza activists were elected to councils across UK - from cutting military ties with Israel to 'ensuring insurance quotes don't cost more for someone called Muhammad'

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13386393/Muslim-vote-list-demands-Keir-Starmer-Labour-Gaza-Palestine.html

WTF has emptying the bins got to do with Israel and Gaza?, these new religious councillors have turned these local elections into a bleeding farce, its time the government came up with a proper plan to put these idiots back in their boxes, campaigning on World issues should not be allowed to happen at local elections and anyone who does so should be removed from the ballot paper.

They should never have allowed migrants a vote in the first place, you only have to look at the governments of Africa, Asia, the Middle East and South Asia to see that they don't practise any form of diversity or inclusivity, we of European stock must be the thickest pillocks to ever walk the planet.

[Skybird]

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce43zv3qln9o


This sounds more civilized than the rhetoric of former Argentine leaders. Questions are two: why would the UK want to give the islands up, and how long will Milei stay to keep up this moderate tone approach?


Answer to first quesiton is: maybe in the forseeable future the UK simpyl cnanto afford the miliutary umbrella to prtect the islands, and second answer: I dont think he will stay for too long. He has strong political and economic enemies inside and outside Argentine, and even a coup I would not rule out.

[Moonlight]

How could the Greens NOT know about councillor's vile rant against a rabbi? Party faces fury for failing to suspend pro-Gaza activist over tirade against Jewish chaplain

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13390027/How-Greens-not-know-newly-elected-councillors-hate-filled-rant-against-rabbi-Party-faces-fury-failure-suspend-pro-Gaza-activist-launched-vile-tirade-against-Jewish-chaplain-despite-given-dossier-evidence.html

I'm not surprised by this article or by the Greens vetting process either, its not that they don't have a very good vetting process that concerns me, its having one but completely ignoring it to let lowlife muslim bastards like this twat join their ranks.

There wont be a knock on his door by the police, but show us a white person spouting his mouth off like he does and we'll do our best to jail them, double standards are running rampant through our society, and that has to be fixed first before you can begin to repair the damage it has caused over the last 30 years.

[JU_88]

I see things are not too peachy back in Blighty, Probably a GE soon,
my prediction for that would be a Labour Landslide against the back drop of the worst ever voter turn out in recorded history.

[Moonlight]

I see things are not too peachy back in Blighty, Probably a GE soon,
my prediction for that would be a Labour Landslide against the back drop of the worst ever voter turn out in recorded history.

No, No, No, there isn't going to be a landslide for any political party, a hung parliament is what we're looking at and, that will probably collapse within 18 months, who'll win the next GE is too unpredictable to say at this time, so don't go putting any money on it as yet.

[JU_88]

You reckon? I just think there cant really be anyone left who the Tories havent completley p*ssed off or alienated at this point.
Which demographic likes them? I cant see it.
Love or loath Labour, they cant argue they have got their fan base.
Both Keir and Rishi are WEF card carriers anyway, so its all pretty academic really.

[mapuc]

From BBC
"Rishi Sunak is to give a statement outside Downing Street and is expected to announce a summer general election date"

So now you British people have your chance to vote Sunak out or give him another chance.

Markus

[MGR1]

July the 4th is now confirmed.

Mike.:hmmm:

[Moonlight]

The latest polls suggest Labour is on track for a massive Commons majority of 236, I've heard all this bollocks before, so shove that poll up your derriere you plonkers.

I expected the GE to take place in the Autumn so Sunak has surprised me with this announcement. could he surprise the Nation by winning this election?. Well the Muslim vote is not so certain for the Labour Party anymore, and I can see them losing about 20 or 30 seats and maybe even more, so could this be what Sunak's relying on?.

Tory MPs telling any one who'll listen that Sunak has a 'death wish' is not a good sign, a defeatist attitude is not what the Tory voters want to hear, they want to hear their rabble rousing MPs tub thumping their way to victory instead of whimpering their way towards a disastrous defeat.

I'm going to stick my neck out and declare a win for the Tories, what makes you say that then?, we haven't seen the Labour Parties Manifesto yet, I'm not sure if they even have one, but I do know one thing, Starmer has to get off that fence he likes sitting on and start delivering instead of sniping from the bushes.

What about the Tory manifesto then?, I expect it to contain the same bollocks as what the last 14 years have contained, no surprises there then, just suck it up and deal with it. :O:

Update.
Nigel Farage quits GB News show to focus on campaigning for Reform - but WON'T be an election candidate - as party vows to take fight to Tories on immigration

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13451361/The-immigration-election-Reform-says-fight-Tories-figures-net-inflows-685-000-year-Rishi-Sunak-handed-huge-boost-Nigel-Farage-rules-comeback.html

I can't see Reform winning any parliamentary seats but what I can see is Reform hoovering up some disgruntled Tory voters, how many of them no one knows but, the Labour party had better keep an eye on things as their Immigration Policy is worse than the Tories, and I'm sure that Reform will definitely hoover up some of their voters too.

Labour\LibDems and the Tory Immigration Policies, it doesn't seem to be a big thing in London for any of them but, around the rest of the country its enormous, all the big three parties will be losing and gaining voters over these invaders so, they'd all better start listening to the country or they could end up with egg on their faces.

I'm still going to stick with a Tory win, it's not because they're any better than the other parties (14 years of Tory bollocks have proven that) it's because the Tories know how to win an election when it really matters and that can't be discounted.

[Moonlight]

Keir Starmer claims he WILL cut immigration - but refuses to set a target or say how long it will take

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13485241/Keir-Starmer-immigration-Labour-Tories-election-Blair-Rishi.html

More empty promises from Starmer and Cooper, the dodging on immigration numbers and the economy reminds me of Tony Blair and all of his referendums, how many referendums did we get then?, none you muppets, that's the point, voters will just **** things up, just like the Labour party did then..... :D
At least with the Tories you know where you stand, at the back of the queue, with a Labour government in power you'll never get in that queue, I'm not going to vote for a knee bending criminal loving twat but, you do what you think is right, even though it might be the wrong thing to do. :O:

[Catfish]

They just write the usual bollocks into their manifesto, promise to cut immigration alright, and if they add going back to the EU they'll win, easy.
🤣😛

[Jimbuna]

You always know when a politician is lying....their lips begin moving.

[Jimbuna]

So.....Corbyns former concubine has finally made her mind up has she.

Diane Abbott has said that she “intends to run and win” as Labour’s candidate for Hackney North and Stoke Newington.

In a post on X, the Labour contender denied any suggestion that she had been offered a peerage in return for not standing for election and said she “would not accept one if offered”.

Sir Keir Starmer had for days refused to back the veteran MP being able to stand at the general election.

But on Friday, after a backlash against his stance from within Labour, he said she would be “free” to do so.

Responding to a story in the Guardian which claimed that Ms Abbott was still weighing up whether to run, she tweeted: “This is factually incorrect. I have never been offered a seat in the Lords, and would not accept one if offered.

“I am the adopted Labour candidate for Hackney North & Stoke Newington. I intend to run and to win as Labour's candidate.”
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/newslondon/diane-abbott-says-she-intends-to-run-as-labour-s-candidate-for-hackney-north-and-stoke-newington/ar-BB1ntvED?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=ee2def613a984c71af9e1a76d02faf67&ei=27

[Moonlight]

'There are streets in Oldham where no one speaks English': Nigel Farage says some Muslims 'not subscribing to British values' and accuses Rishi of 'betraying' UK in fiery clash with BBC's Mishal Hussain - as he vows Reform would cut net migration to zero

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13491115/Nigel-Farage-calls-working-class-defeat-wrong-headed-elites.html

Go get 'em Nige :O:
Well, well, well. Nigel should liven things up a bit, lets have a look at the three wankers contenders shall we.

Nigel Farage, the straight talking gunslinger who shoots from the lip as well as the hip, he fires blanks as well as bullets but, some of those bullets can hit home with deadly accuracy.
Charisma 8.5\10, Popcorn Factor 9\10.

Rishi Sunak the postman, you can always rely on Rishi to deliver bad news but, good news is always at the end of that rainbow he keeps hinting about.
Charisma 2\10, Popcorn Factor 1.5\10.

Keir Starmer the U-Turn man, he's in the driving seat for now but, when Angela Rayner wants to drive he'll be doing a U-Turn up his own derriere.
Charisma 1\10, Popcorn Factor 1.5\10.

Another 4 or 5 years with Sunak or Starmer and we'll probably all end up on medication, I would like to see Nigel Farage in the House of Commons but, that's not going to happen.
You can say what you want about Nigel, plenty of them do, but, the one thing you can't take away from him, is he's got the X-Factor over those other two wankers, a TV debate with Nigel is what the other two will want to avoid, if it happens and they all end up on TV they had better be heavily armed or Nigel will have the both of them in Boothill. :haha:

[Jimbuna]

First live debate between Sunak and Starmer is on ITV 9pm tonight.

Should be good for a laugh.

[Moonlight]

Crikey, the TV debate is tonight!, I'm not going to be bored to death by those two pillocks so I'm going to give it a miss. :D

I'm going to watch Civil War (2024) tonight, hey, it might be rubbish and it might not be, but one thing I do know for sure, and that's those two pillocks above are going to kill a lot more people than this film will do. :doh:

[mapuc]

Crikey, the TV debate is tonight!, I'm not going to be bored to death by those two pillocks so I'm going to give it a miss. :D

I'm going to watch Civil War (2024) tonight, hey, it might be rubbish and it might not be, but one thing I do know for sure, and that's those two pillocks above are going to kill a lot more people than this film will do. :doh:

Some if not many are going to swallow the political commerce they will bring forward in tonight's duolog

Markus

[Moonlight]

Glimmer of hope for Rishi as Tories celebrate PM's performance in first TV election debate that 'left Starmer exposed' and snap poll shows PM edged the head-to-head - as rattled Labour hit out at Tory 'lies' about their tax plans costing Brits £2,000

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13496485/Glimmer-hope-Rishi-Tories-celebrate-PMs-performance-TV-election-debate-left-Starmer-exposed-snap-poll-shows-PM-edged-head-head-rattled-Labour-hit-Tory-lies-tax-plans-costing-Brits-2-000.html

A glimmer of hope?, are the Tory hierarchy kidding me?, do the Tories even realise what's at stake here?, they're sleep walking their way to an election disaster and they don't even know it. Rishi Sunak was barely landing powder puff punches on to his opponents chin as Starmer survived the first round with ease, Jesus Christ, is this all they've got!.
What he needed to do was kick the **** out of Starmer and then slam his head through the nearest brick wall, that would have been a glimmer of hope you useless Tory pillocks.

I actually believed that Sunak would come out fighting for once but, after reading the headlines I now know that Sunak believes that the Tories will win this election and all he has to do is get through the rounds unscathed and victory is assured, the bloody idiot has lost his bleeding marbles.

There's still plenty of life left in this election, it just doesn't involve those two bloody idiots, obviously, Sunak and Starmer wont want a brawl with Nigel or they'd both end up in the nearest rundown hospital, so there'll be a lot of ducking and diving from them to avoid such a confrontation.



Which type of voter are you? Experts divide Britain's electorate into six groups - including 'Middle Britons', 'Left-Behind Patriots', and 'Well-Off Traditionalists'

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13497285/Which-type-voter-Experts-divide-Britains-electorate-six-groups-including-Middle-Britons-Left-Patriots-Traditionalists.html

Whooo, I'm a Reform supporter according to this article.

Well that's not strictly true old boy, I like the idea of Reform sticking it to 2 political parties who just do what they want to do and totally ignoring their voter base, a supporter of Reform?, No way, but a vote for Reform could happen. Reform was created on the backs of Labour and Tory disillusioned voters so it was inevitable that it was going to happen. if "The Monster Raving Looney Party" had had a similar charismatic figure at the helm all those years ago it would have happened then. Anyway I'm glad it didn't happen then as I would probably have been a potential Looney voter, rather than a potential Reform voter, can you imagine a fine upstanding gentleman like myself voting for a Looney MP, oh the indignity of it. :haha:

[Jimbuna]

Part 2 will be on Sky News as far as I'm aware.

[Moonlight]

Labour leftwingers push Sir Keir Starmer to officially commit to backing the 'immediate recognition of a Palestinian state' and scrapping two-child benefit cap as senior party figures and union leaders meet to hammer out election manifesto

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13505965/Labour-leftwingers-Keir-Starmer-Palestine-Israel-Gaza.html

I always knew that Starmer was a knobhead who could walk under a snakes belly with a top hat on, but rewarding the Hamas terrorists and their Palestinian co-conspirators is a new low for him, and what will Starmer and the Labour Party gain from this heinous action?, Votes, obviously the muslim vote, or some other people would call it the Scum vote.

Just how low will this Starmer prick stoop?, would he go as low as to invite the Hamas Terrorist Leaders into Westminster, or even to a state banquet with the King and Queen in attendance, I think he's capable of going much lower than that, Mr U-Turn Man will do almost anything to get the publics vote.

Likeability Factor, **** Off\10. :O:

[mapuc]

The politicians say what most of the people like to hear-The politician then forget these word after the election.

Markus

[Skybird]

We live in elected feudalism. Lords and peasants. And the laughs are at the expense of the peasants - they keep voting for their enslavement time and again.

https://www-focus-de.translate.goog/politik/gastbeitrag-von-gabor-steingart-an-diesen-fuenf-todsuenden-erkennen-sie-die-kuenftigen-wahlverlierer_id_260010348.html?_x_tr_sl=de&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=de

Say what you want, but blokes like Trump have instinct and absolute, total expert knowledge on how the media function and can be abused for manipulating the masses.

Sunak does not. :haha: His recent stunt once again backfires. His early leaving from the D-Day event to attend some eleciton event instead, shows how complete his lack of political instinct is. He gets exactly the opppsite effect of what he wanted to "acchieve". LOL

[Jimbuna]

https://i.postimg.cc/g2Mp1BG1/111.jpg (https://postimg.cc/G4s6yK8j)
https://i.postimg.cc/zfVNNSBv/111b.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[Jimbuna]

https://i.postimg.cc/brP4ZQzQ/111.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
https://i.postimg.cc/zvk6KVB4/111b.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[Moonlight]

We live in elected feudalism. Lords and peasants. And the laughs are at the expense of the peasants - they keep voting for their enslavement time and again.

Sunak does not. :haha: His recent stunt once again backfires. His early leaving from the D-Day event to attend some eleciton event instead, shows how complete his lack of political instinct is. He gets exactly the opppsite effect of what he wanted to "acchieve". LOL

The only cure for "Stupid" that's guaranteed to work every time is a bullet to the forehead, Sunak, his cronies, and most of the peasantry are long overdue for a shot of it. :haha:

[Jimbuna]

Count Binface to stand in Rishi Sunak’s seat

Count Binface has announced he will be standing in the General Election and taking on “the biggest fish of the lot” as he sets his sights on the Rishi Sunak’s constituency in North Yorkshire.

The self-described intergalactic space warrior has since 2019 run in a number of high-profile seats, provoking awkward moments before the nation’s TV cameras as he stands alongside leading political figures.

Binface caught the attention of the media when he stood against former prime minister Boris Johnson in Uxbridge and South Ruislip in the 2019 general election and placed seventh, below his rival Lord Buckethead of the Monster Raving Loony Party, with 69 votes.

In his podcast Trash Talk, Count Binface confirmed on Friday that he will be standing as a candidate in Richmond and Northallerton, which has been held by the Prime Minister since 2015.
It means Binface will likely be pictured alongside Mr Sunak on election night amid what could be a national Tory defeat, according to the latest opinion polls.

Speaking from the County Hall in Northallerton, Binface said it would be like “Fury vs Usyk times a billion” in the July 4 election.

He said: “If you know Binface, you’ll know I always take on the biggest fish of the lot, although I should add this time, the biggest is only meant figuratively.

“That’s right, I am here right now in Richmond and Northallerton and I can announce that I will be taking on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in electoral combat on July 4.

“You shirked D-Day Rishi, you can’t miss the B-Day.

“That’s right. Binface vs Sunak is going to be Fury vs Usyk times a billion. Bring it on!”

Binface recently came 11th in the London Mayoral Elections, where he earned 24,260 votes.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/other/count-binface-to-stand-in-rishi-sunak-s-seat/ar-BB1nQ0S1?ocid=mailsignout&pc=U591&cvid=99a42b42478d486fb9d07995a6356eef&ei=28

:):haha::har:

[Jimbuna]

Rishi Sunak says it's now harder for people to have their own home under a Conservative government.

In an interview with the BBC's Nick Robinson, the prime minister was also asked about D-Day and Tory tax plans.

The full interview will be shown at 20:00 on BBC One and on BBC iPlayer - as well as at the top of this page.

Earlier, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey launched his party's manifesto in London with a promise to "save the NHS"

He recalls how caring for his ill mum "became his life" as a teenager, and pledges to "tackle the health and care crisis from top to bottom"

The manifesto includes pledges to recruit 8,000 more GPs, give unpaid carers a right to paid carers' leave from work, and introduce free personal care in England.

Davey says all policies in the 116-page manifesto are "fully costed" - the Conservative and Labour manifestos are also expected to be published this week.

[Jimbuna]

Fury as Nicola Sturgeon lands huge ITV general election role despite Holyrood silence

Former SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has sparked fury from rivlals after landing a top pundit spot on ITV's General Election night show, despite making very few speeches at Holyrood in her role as a MSP in recent months.

The Scottish Daily Express reports Ms Sturgeon will be appearing live on ITV during their July 4 show, continuing her showbiz career which has seen the former First Minister enjoying the lucrative book festival circuit.

However, political rivals vying for votes in the upcoming contest have decsribed Ms Sturgeon as "divisive politician" who may be forced to "squirm" live on air if the SNP have a bad night at the ballot box.

A Scottish Conservative spokesperson told Express.co.uk: "Nicola Sturgeon is a discredited, divisive politician with a record of failure - which is why many of her policies have been ditched or delayed by her successors.
"It's up to ITV to choose their pundits but voters up and down Scotland have the chance to make Nicola Sturgeon squirm on national TV by making sure the SNP have a dismal night - and in key seats across Scotland that means voting Scottish Conservative."

ITV announced that Ms Sturgeon would be a pundit on the channel's Election 2024 Live: The Results which will air on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV player. The show will be anchored by Tom Bradby and cover the overnight results on July 4 and into July 5.

Ms Sturgeon will be joined in the studio by the likes of former Tory Chancellor George Osborne, ex-shadow Chancellor Ed Balls, as well as reporters Robert Peston and Anushka Asthana plus election analysts Professor Jane Green and Professor Colin Rallings.

It will likely be a poor night for her party as the Nats look set to lose seats across Scotland.

A spokesperson for the Scottish Greens told Express.co.uk: "It is refreshing for a news channel to ensure women are represented rather than old men in grey suits, but at a time when the SNP are backtracking on the climate crisis at a rate keeping pace with the many Labour U-turns and today's Tory doomsday manifesto, what ITV should do is ensure that green voices are fully represented given poll after poll after poll shows that climate, along with the cost of living crisis, is the most important issue for voters on the doorstep."

Current Scottish First Minister John Swinney said last week his predecesscor-bar-one had a "huge" contribution to make in the SNP's General Election campaign.

Ms Sturgeon has kept a relatively low profile amid Police Scotland's Operation Branchform investigation, which saw her arrested and later released without charge as officers probe the spending of £600,000 of SNP funds.

Her husband and former party chief executive Peter Murrell was charged with embezzlement as part of the probe. Former party treasurer and current MSP Colin Beattie was also arrested and released pending further investigation.

Charges have not been brought against Ms Sturgeon or Mr Beattie, and Police Scotland say the investigation "remains ongoing".

In May, Ms Sturgeon was quizzed by journalists on why she had not yet joined her former deputy, now First Minister, to campaign for the party as part of the election.

She announced a tentative campaign return, stating she would contribute in "ways I think are helpful".
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/other/fury-as-nicola-sturgeon-lands-huge-itv-general-election-role-despite-holyrood-silence/ar-BB1o0vip?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=a42de72f464445e29558e59cf3145580&ei=67

[MGR1]

I can't say the Scottish Tories are looking all that rosy either, what with Douglas Ross effectively shooting himself in the foot:

Douglas Ross to resign as leader of Scottish Conservatives. (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ceddenl8xz4o)

Douglas Ross hits the self-destruct button. (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cv22n025lqvo)

Twat.:roll:

Ultimately the GE is a two horse race between SLab and the Nats. The Tories will probably cling to a few seats, but the question is how many the SNP loses and how many SLab gains.

The main event up here will be the Holyrood elections next year.

Mike.:hmmm:

[Jimbuna]

Reform UK within 1 point of Tories in bombshell poll win for Nigel Farage

Reform UK is now just one point behind the Tories, according to a new poll.

The YouGov survey puts Nigel Farage's party on 17%, up one from last week, with the Conservatives down one on 18%.

Labour has a 20-point lead with 38%, but Sir Keir Starmer's party has dropped three points from the week before.

The Liberal Democrats are up four points in fourth place with 15%, with the Greens on 8% and the SNP taking 2%.

The poll of more than 2,000 British adults was carried out on Monday and Tuesday morning before Rishi Sunak unveiled his General Election manifesto.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/reform-uk-within-1-point-of-tories-in-bombshell-poll-win-for-nigel-farage/ar-BB1o1XlO?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=b6a318aea4d045f386e0937f07a7ff77&ei=12

[Jimbuna]

Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney says the UK should raise taxes to avoid spending cuts after the election.

In an interview with the BBC's Nick Robinson, the SNP leader claims Labour has "signed up" to cuts planned by the Tories - something Keir Starmer denies.

Robinson also interviewed Plaid Cymru’s Rhun ap Iorwerth - watch both in full from 19:00 at the top of this page.

ap Iorwerth calls on Welsh voters to prevent Labour from having a "huge majority" that would allow them to "ignore Wales completely"

Earlier, Rishi Sunak insisted the general election isn't over, after Defence Secretary Grant Shapps discussed a possible Labour "supermajority"

With polls showing a clear lead for Labour, Keir Starmer says he is not complacent.

Meanwhile, the Green Party has launched its manifesto, promising an extra £50bn a year on health and social care.

[Jimbuna]

Labour launches its manifesto for the 4 July general election, focusing on economic growth and "stability"

Party leader Keir Starmer says that wealth creation is the "number one priority"

He says Labour promises "stability over chaos, long-term over short-term, an end to the desperate era of gestures and gimmicks"

Starmer says Labour will not raise personal tax rates - the manifesto includes plans to raise £8bn, including through VAT on private school fees, closing loopholes, and a windfall tax on oil and gas.

Rishi Sunak says Labour’s manifesto "would mean the highest taxes in history... if you think they’ll win, start saving"

Before Labour, Plaid Cymru launched its manifesto, with a focus on "fairer" funding for Wales.

[Jimbuna]

https://i.postimg.cc/50rsRx0n/111.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
https://i.postimg.cc/JtVPRPjX/111b.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[Catfish]

Just a test from postimage :03:

https://i.postimg.cc/vHGN9mMY/Rick-Astley-for-Prime-Minister.webp (https://postimg.cc/JtdxCMGv)

[Jimbuna]

:haha:

[Jimbuna]

King's Birthday Honours List 2024: Gordon Brown 'slightly embarrassed' as he gets historic award

Former Labour leader Gordon Brown has been awarded with a top award in the King's Birthday Honours list.

The ex-Prime Minister, 73, was recognised for "public and charitable services in the UK and abroad" as he became a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour. A highly coveted award of which there are only ever 65 recipients at any one time.

The gong - founded by King George V in 1917 to recognise outstanding achievements in the Arts, Sciences, Medicine and Public Service - has previously been given to Dame Shirley Bassey, Sir David Attenborough and Sir Elton John. Mr Brown has raised more than £4million for charitable causes.

Mr Brown said: "I feel slightly embarrassed as the opportunity to serve is an honour in itself and my preference has always been to recognise all those brilliant, unsung, local heroes who quietly and selflessly give their time to contribute to the vitality of our communities. I want to thank those who put my name forward and thank too my family and all who have worked with me during the last 50 years in public life to whom I owe everything."

Mr Brown was Prime Minister from 2007 to 2010, having been Chancellor under Tony Blair from 1997 to 2007.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/king-s-birthday-honours-list-2024-gordon-brown-slightly-embarrassed-as-he-gets-historic-award/ar-BB1ofGn8?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=6b8099ad81b1427faaceb07430c8dbf1&ei=8

[Gorpet]

https://i.postimg.cc/50rsRx0n/111.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
https://i.postimg.cc/JtVPRPjX/111b.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Keir Starmer, He's a Trotskyist, Comrade and a Globalist who believes in themselves as the the Elite.Their goal is Planetary rule of the Earth.Sir Starmer is the wolf in sheep's clothing. Here in America there is no clothing it's straight up. You better have some F-16's. OH baby right out of Uncle Joes mouth.It will be One party rule soon in America. And the Uk to.It's a marriage till Death do us part.... And Ukraine will be the death of NATO and all of the European Union... Why because of one word Democracy. Not everyone on this planet want's the west version of Democracy.

Let the word Democracy slip from the Politician's mouth and thousands will die. That is a fact.

[Jimbuna]

https://i.postimg.cc/qMVRkHtY/Untitled.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
https://i.postimg.cc/QxQMCY1M/Untitledb.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[Jimbuna]

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has launched the party's election pledges in Merthyr Tydfil, south Wales.

The party calls the pledges a "contract" with the voters - arguing the word "manifesto" has been devalued.

The pledges include no income tax for people earning less than £20,000, and leaving the European Convention on Human Rights.

Labour is today campaigning on the economy - saying its plans would create 650,000 jobs.

At a meeting in London, shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves tells business leaders their "fingers are all over" the Labour manifesto.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who's campaigning around Yorkshire and the East Midlands, insists the Conservatives can still win the election.

[MGR1]

I have a distinct feeling that Reform will lose their deposits in the Scottish constituencies that they do stand in.

Mike.:hmmm:

[Jimbuna]

^ I certainly hope so.

[Moonlight]

Bev Turner hits out at 'London-elite snobbery' as Farage excluded from BBC 1 Leaders debate

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/other/bev-turner-hits-out-at-london-elite-snobbery-as-farage-excluded-from-bbc-1-leaders-debate/ar-BB1oAko0?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=EDGEESS&cvid=1c6ec40771df40c3882c2c706d335640&ei=17

I wouldn't call it snobbery or bias Bev, it's much worse than that, it's the BBC running it's own version of cancel culture against Nigel Farage or any one else who wants to change the Status Quo. I bet those BBC executives were foaming at the mouth when they heard Reform would get rid of the BBC license fee.
It's an out dated way of funding those BBC celebrity life styles any way, over a million pound a year salary for presenting Match of the Day highlights is a perfect example of the BBC taking the piss out of the nation.

[Jimbuna]

Rishi Sunak would not be drawn further on questions surrounding allegations that Tory insiders were betting on the election and promises again to "boot out" anyone found to have broken gambling laws.

Speaking at the Welsh Conservative manifesto launch, he says the allegations must be “thoroughly and properly” looked into.

Labour leader Keir Starmer promotes his party's industry strategy during a campaign visit to Scotland, while the Lib Dems' Ed Davey is focusing on dentistry in Yorkshire.

Elsewhere, Scotland’s deputy First Minister Kate Forbes is calling for a cut in VAT for tourism and hospitality while campaigning in Glasgow.

Later, Reform UK's Nigel Farage will be interviewed as part of the BBC's Panorama election series, in a programme which will air at 19:00 BST

[Jimbuna]

Keir Starmer has called Nigel Farage's comments on Ukraine "disgraceful" as Rishi Sunak says that they play into Putin's hands.

The Reform UK leader has faced criticism after he told the BBC on Friday night the West "provoked" Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

While not commenting directly on his remarks, a Ukrainian government source told the BBC that "the virus of Putinism, unfortunately, infects people"

Elsewhere, author JK Rowling says she'd "struggle to support" the Labour Party if Keir Starmer keeps his current stance on gender recognition.

Starmer said earlier that he "respects" the author while highlighting what he describes as the party's long track record on advancing the women's rights.

The Labour leader is out in London unveiling his party's plans to expedite payments for the thousands of victims of the Windrush scandal, while Lib Dem leader Ed Davey was in the south of England.

SNP leader John Swinney told a crowd at Edinburgh Pride that he will “take forward” LGBT rights, but he’s completely aware that the issue of gender reform divides his own party.

[Gorpet]

:DKeir Starmer has called Nigel Farage's comments on Ukraine "disgraceful" as Rishi Sunak says that they play into Putin's hands.

The Reform UK leader has faced criticism after he told the BBC on Friday night the West "provoked" Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

While not commenting directly on his remarks, a Ukrainian government source told the BBC that "the virus of Putinism, unfortunately, infects people"

Elsewhere, author JK Rowling says she'd "struggle to support" the Labour Party if Keir Starmer keeps his current stance on gender recognition.

Starmer said earlier that he "respects" the author while highlighting what he describes as the party's long track record on advancing the women's rights.

The Labour leader is out in London unveiling his party's plans to expedite payments for the thousands of victims of the Windrush scandal, while Lib Dem leader Ed Davey was in the south of England.

SNP leader John Swinney told a crowd at Edinburgh Pride that he will “take forward” LGBT rights, but he’s completely aware that the issue of gender reform divides his own party.

Well, there is 1 question that no one will touch on.Will the Uk and Scotland go along with the United States and institute conscription for all citizens.18 to 25 for military service.? Look here in the USA, Joe said it would be so,.Everything changes in the United States at 00.01 am.

Our Rainbows are looking forward to Bunking with your rainbows. Unfortunately our female barrack bunnies are all pregnant.So what you will get is stiff poles looking for soft holes. Long live NATO and lets put them Russian soldiers on their belly's and treat them.To a stick of Democracy. NATO style.:D

NATO is a conqueror, subdue and subjugate for the Planet.Bend the knee and accept a roll back to the past.You will own nothing and be happy.:D

And i can see by 2030, this will already be.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izQB2-Kmiic

Damn these guys, were Prophets.And they had higher IQ's than all of today's Politicians... Then again what really is a Politician ?

[Jimbuna]

Fourth Tory investigated in election bets probe

A fourth senior Conservative is being looked into by the Gambling Commission over bets allegedly placed on the date of the general election.

The Sunday Times reported that the party's chief data officer Nick Mason allegedly placed dozens of bets, which the paper says could have generated winnings of thousands of pounds.

A spokesman for Mr Mason told the BBC that it would not be appropriate to comment during an investigation but he denied wrongdoing.

Mr Mason has now taken a leave of absence from his Tory party role, 11 days from election day on 4 July.

The Conservative Party said it was "not permitted to discuss any matters related" to any Gambling Commission investigation.

The BBC has previously reported that two Conservative election candidates and another party official are also being investigated.

Both Laura Saunders and Craig Williams have confirmed they were being investigated by the Gambling Commission.

Ms Saunders, the party’s candidate in Bristol North West, has worked for the Tories since 2015.

Ms Saunders's partner is the Conservative director of campaigning Tony Lee, who is also being looked at over an alleged bet. He has taken a leave of absence from his job.

The allegations of gambling on the election date first emerged against one of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s closest aides, Mr Williams, who reportedly placed a £100 bet on a July polling day three days before the date was named.

Mr Williams, who was the Tory MP for Montgomery until the election was called and is standing again in the new constituency of Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr, previously apologised and said he made a "huge error of judgement".

When asked by the BBC, he refused to say whether he placed a bet on the basis of inside information.

Speaking about the allegations on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Home Secretary James Cleverly said the Gambling Commission were investigating and it was "right and proper that we let them do their job".

Asked if any ministers had placed a bet on the timing of the election, Mr Cleverly said: "Not to my knowledge."

Following the latest allegation, a Conservative spokesman said: "As instructed by the Gambling Commission, we are not permitted to discuss any matters related to any investigation with the subject or any other persons."

Last week, Mr Sunak said he had been "incredibly angry" to learn about the allegations, promising to "boot out" anyone found to have broken gambling laws from the Conservative Party.

Mr Sunak announced 4 July as the date of the general election on 22 May, taking much of Westminster by surprise.

If someone uses confidential information to gain an unfair advantage when betting, this could be a criminal offence under section 42 of the Gambling Act.

A spokesperson for the Gambling Commission confirmed to the BBC it is "investigating the possibility of offences concerning the date of the election".

The Commission also said it could not provide any further details about the investigation or who was being looked into as it is an ongoing process.

"We are not confirming or denying the identity of any individuals involved in this investigation," it said.

Both Labour and the Liberal Democrats called for Mr Sunak to suspend those under investigation.

Labour's shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson described the allegations as "pretty shocking" and said there would be "genuine disgust" amongst voters.

Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper said the PM should launch a Cabinet Office inquiry into the reports, which she described as an "all-out scandal at the heart of the Conservative Party".

"People are sick and tired of this sleaze. Day by day, hour by hour, the Conservative government mire themselves in more of it", she said.

Housing Secretary Michael Gove has condemned the latest reports, and likened the controversy to Partygate during the Covid-19 crisis.

"It looks like one rule for them and one rule for us," the Tory cabinet minister, who is not standing again at the election, told the Sunday Times.

It has also emerged that a police officer working as part of the prime minister’s close protection team had been arrested following an allegation of bets on the timing of the election.

The officer was initially suspended by the Metropolitan Police and then arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

The individual has been bailed pending further inquiries.

The Met was contacted by the Gambling Commission last Friday. It informed the force that it was investigating alleged bets made by a police constable from the Met's Royalty and Specialist Protection Command.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c511nv3pjd6o

[Rockstar]

UK begins detaining migrants set to be deported to Rwanda

By Reuters
May 1, 202412:51 PM EDT

https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-begins-detaining-migrants-set-be-deported-rwanda-2024-05-01/

LONDON, May 1 (Reuters) - British authorities have started to detain migrants in preparation for them to be sent to Rwanda in the next nine to 11 weeks, the government said on Wednesday, laying the groundwork for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's flagship immigration policy.
Parliament last month approved a law that paves the way for sending asylum seekers to Rwanda if they arrive in Britain without permission. Sunak, who is expected to call an election later this year in which illegal migration is likely to feature prominently, wants the first flights to take off in July.
More than 7,500 migrants have arrived in England on small boats from France so far this year. The government says the new law will deter people from making the perilous trip across the Channel. Five people died trying to make the crossing last week.
Images released by Britain's interior ministry on Wednesday showed a man being put in a van by immigration enforcement officials, and another being led out of his house in handcuffs.

"Our dedicated enforcement teams are working at pace to swiftly detain those who have no right to be here so we can get flights off the ground," interior minister James Cleverly said in a statement on Wednesday.
One trade union representing civil servants who may be instructed to help enact the policy said it had launched a legal challenge because its members were potentially being asked to breach international law.

"Civil servants should never be left in a position where they are conflicted between the instructions of ministers and adhering to the Civil Service Code, yet that is exactly what the government has chosen to do," said Dave Penman, General Secretary of the FDA union.

OPPOSITION

Other unions and human rights charities opposed to the policy are expected to launch challenges to stop the flights from taking off after the UK Supreme Court declared the policy unlawful last year.

Care4Calais, a refugee charity, said the detentions had started on Monday.

A spokesperson said the group's helpline had received calls from "tens of people", adding that they still did not know who would be earmarked for the first deportation flight, or when it would be attempted.

"People are very frightened," said Natasha Tsangarides, Associate Director of Advocacy at charity Freedom from Torture, saying the fear of being detained and sent to Rwanda would push some people to go underground and disengage with their support system.

[Rockstar]

Certainly this article shows that if you voted for Brexit it proves you must agree with Farage and support Putin’s argument the west provoked Ukraine and therefore the genocide of Ukrainians is justified. OMG and because I’m stupid enough to believe such arguments, articles and algorithms that show up on my feed it must mean civil war is on the horizon! Let’s discuss who would win a civil war in the U.K.
——————

Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, criticized for saying West provoked Putin to invade Ukraine

https://apnews.com/article/britain-election-farage-ukraine-putin-7bfbded6b5bbdd874e2ad708e8d78389

LONDON (AP) — Nigel Farage, leader of the right-wing Reform U.K party, is facing wide-ranging criticism across the political spectrum over his claim that the West provoked Russian President Vladimir Putin to invade Ukraine, including of being an appeaser.

In a BBC television interview broadcast Friday evening, Farage, who is seeking to woo voters away from Britain’s governing Conservatives at the July 4 general election, drew a link between the expansion of NATO and the European Union eastwards over the past few decades and the invasion.

Claiming that he warned of a potential war in Ukraine in 2014, when he was a member of the European Parliament, Farage said “we provoked this war.” It’s unclear whether his warning came before or after Russia had annexed the Crimea peninsula from Ukraine in February 2014.

“It was obvious to me that the ever-eastward expansion of NATO and the European Union was giving this man a reason to his Russian people to say, ‘They’re coming for us again’ and to go to war,” Farage said. “It’s, you know, of course it’s his fault — he’s used what we’ve done as an excuse.”

Farage’s critics from across the political spectrum slammed his statement, with many describing him as a Putin apologist.

In perhaps his sharpest criticism of Farage, Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said it was “completely wrong” to say the West provoked Putin into launching a full invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

“This is a man who deployed nerve agents on the streets of Britain, who’s doing deals with countries like North Korea,” Sunak said. “And this kind of appeasement is dangerous for Britain’s security, the security of our allies that rely on us and only emboldens Putin further.”

Many Conservatives, including Sunak, have largely held back from overly criticizing Farage, who though not a lawmaker in the U.K. Parliament, was hugely influential in Britain’s vote to leave the EU in 2016.

The worry among many Conservatives is that attacking him too much will further alienate many Conservative voters, who sympathize with his tough rhetoric on issues like immigration and Brexit. In many constituencies around the country, Conservatives have argued that a vote for Reform would see the main opposition Labour Party come through the middle and win.

“I think Nigel Farage is a bit like that pub bore we have all met at the end of the bar who often says if ‘I was running the country’ and presents very simplistic answers to actually, I am afraid in the 21st century, complex problems,” Ben Wallace, the former Conservative defense secretary who has stood down as a lawmaker, told BBC radio.

This is the first general election that Reform U.K. is contesting and it has enjoyed a lift in the polls after Farage said in early June he would lead the party and contest the seat in Clacton in southeast England. Though the party is not expected to secure many seats, Farage is currently favorite to win his contest and finally enter Parliament after seven attempts.

Keir Starmer, leader of the left-of-center Labour Party who is widely expected to become prime minister after the election, labelled Farage’s comments as “disgraceful.”

“Anyone who is standing for Parliament ought to be really clear that Russia is the aggressor,” he said.

[Moonlight]

^You're posting a load of bollocks again Rocky. :O:

Seat by seat, how you can help stop a Starmer supermajority: Small number of Reform voters in constituencies across the country could prevent a Labour landslide if they vote Tory

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13561199/Seat-seat-help-stop-Starmer-supermajority-Small-number-Reform-voters-constituencies-country-prevent-Labour-landslide-vote-Tory.html

The Daily Mail are using desperate measures to convince the voters to elect the Tories back into power again, 14 years of Austerity and Broken Promises all under the watchful eye of 5 different Tory Prime Ministers, they're not a fit and proper party to deserve another term in office.
One of the most shameful acts instigated by Cameron was to blame a bunch of cripples for the countries ills, I would have respected him more if he'd gone on TV and said we can't afford these cripples and we're going to execute the lot of them. All of this was going on while the Tories were dishing out Tax Freebies to the wealthiest in the country, and what did some of those pig troughers do, they just stuck their snouts even deeper into the PPE trough scandal.
Who was in charge of all these wasted PPE billions at that time, our very own Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, trust you again Rishi?, not a ******* chance.

There are major problems for all the parties at the moment and most of them have been caused by out of touch politicians, I'm still not convinced by this Labour Super Majority, the Muslim vote is going to be a factor, then there's Starmer and his flip flopping, especially trying to appease Trans mental cases at the cost of alienating the women voters, and the Tax Burden that might be added to our aching backs, yep, Starmer might end up with egg on his face, lets hope so as i detest Champagne Socialists.

[Jimbuna]

Rishi Sunak says he's "not aware" of other Conservative candidates being looked at by the Gambling Commission over alleged election date bets.

The Gambling Commission is looking into alleged bets by at least four Conservatives, including candidates Craig Williams and Laura Saunders.

In Edinburgh, Sunak says his party is carrying out "internal inquiries" as well..

Former minister Tobias Ellwood tells the BBC that Rishi Sunak should suspend Conservative candidates involved in the "saga"

Labour's Keir Starmer says gender "ideology" should not be taught in scools.

The Lib Dems are focusing on hospital waiting times; the SNP's John Swinney is speaking on Brexit; while the DUP has launched its manifesto in Northern Ireland.

Meanwhile, the IFS think tank says the problems with the UK's public finances are being "largely ignored" by the two main parties.

[Jimbuna]

^You're posting a load of bollocks again Rocky. :O:

Seat by seat, how you can help stop a Starmer supermajority: Small number of Reform voters in constituencies across the country could prevent a Labour landslide if they vote Tory

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13561199/Seat-seat-help-stop-Starmer-supermajority-Small-number-Reform-voters-constituencies-country-prevent-Labour-landslide-vote-Tory.html

The Daily Mail are using desperate measures to convince the voters to elect the Tories back into power again, 14 years of Austerity and Broken Promises all under the watchful eye of 5 different Tory Prime Ministers, they're not a fit and proper party to deserve another term in office.
One of the most shameful acts instigated by Cameron was to blame a bunch of cripples for the countries ills, I would have respected him more if he'd gone on TV and said we can't afford these cripples and we're going to execute the lot of them. All of this was going on while the Tories were dishing out Tax Freebies to the wealthiest in the country, and what did some of those pig troughers do, they just stuck their snouts even deeper into the PPE trough scandal.
Who was in charge of all these wasted PPE billions at that time, our very own Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, trust you again Rishi?, not a ******* chance.

There are major problems for all the parties at the moment and most of them have been caused by out of touch politicians, I'm still not convinced by this Labour Super Majority, the Muslim vote is going to be a factor, then there's Starmer and his flip flopping, especially trying to appease Trans mental cases at the cost of alienating the women voters, and the Tax Burden that might be added to our aching backs, yep, Starmer might end up with egg on his face, lets hope so as i detest Champagne Socialists.

Well here be his mate :)

Reform’s manifesto pledges ‘are poisoning public debate’

Reform UK’s manifesto pledges are “poisoning the public debate” in Britain by promising unrealistic spending plans which undermine other parties’ policies, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has said.

Paul Johnson, director of the IFS, said plans by both Reform and the Green party to spend tens of billions of pounds funded from unreliable sources made other parties look “feeble” without offering a real alternative to voters.

He said: “The way they suggest that they have radical ideas which can realistically make a positive difference, when in fact what they propose is wholly unattainable, helps to poison the entire political debate.

“It makes the other parties look feeble when you say, ‘We can do all this stuff. You can’t.’”
Reform UK, headed by Nigel Farage, has promised a wave of tax cuts and spending increases which the IFS said would risk a rerun of the crunch that swept financial markets after Liz Truss’s mini-Budget in 2022.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/reform-s-manifesto-pledges-are-poisoning-public-debate/ar-BB1oMJm7?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=ece81ccdca2b404098efb9c846b4e3a3&ei=73

[mapuc]

There's one thing I find amazing and that is how short memory voters have.

People tired of the Tory!? Lets vote Labour then

Have the voters forgot how it was during their time at the steering wheel ?

I'm pretty sure it was mostly if not the same as it has been under the Tories

Markus

[Catfish]

Well if people vote for populist parties they should not be surprised what happens next, and to them.

[Moonlight]

Until Reform came up with their spending plans I thought they were holding their end up pretty well, the other 2 parties are being tight lipped about the tax burden they're about to inflict upon the voters, I was going to say population but, Illegal Migrants don't pay tax do they, the scrounging bastards. :doh:

[Jimbuna]

https://i.postimg.cc/d0DCt8y9/448902879-1023987445750569-3011486582597206382-n.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[Gorpet]

https://i.postimg.cc/d0DCt8y9/448902879-1023987445750569-3011486582597206382-n.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Oh damn, now Keir Starmer, is going have to eat, some crow of his own , about betting.

[Gorpet]

Certainly this article shows that if you voted for Brexit it proves you must agree with Farage and support Putin’s argument the west provoked Ukraine and therefore the genocide of Ukrainians is justified. OMG and because I’m stupid enough to believe such arguments, articles and algorithms that show up on my feed it must mean civil war is on the horizon! Let’s discuss who would win a civil war in the U.K.
——————

Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, criticized for saying West provoked Putin to invade Ukraine

https://apnews.com/article/britain-election-farage-ukraine-putin-7bfbded6b5bbdd874e2ad708e8d78389

Stupid is stupid,
your are an ass , Algorithms is how we find you.

have you lost your mind, The last time you was somewhere looking for a cause.If it didn't work out for ya. Don't worry about it, Joey and Democrats they need volunteers for Ukraine.And it would seem your capabilities in the forest. Would make you a perfect candidate. And the Brits Have no choice they can not survive, their best minds. Have been ,Oh that's right, their minds were lost in the years after the war. When you get on the leash of the American version of Democracy well the World will burn.
Is there any country out there that NATO hasn't touched that hasn't in the name of Democracy burned. tell me one. Just one, and if you are the recipient of NATO, Tell us how your country has prospered,.Oh where is the IMF and all these globals. Where is Greta Thunberg ,She hasn't even shown her face ,

since her BLAH,BLAH bull****, Greta the World needs you can't you tell Joe Biden stop this war. Greta, How will the planet survive. All the bombs and fossil fuel's. Greta the world needs you where are you ? Greta the American youth needs you and where the **** are you, Damn It Why don't you tell the American President stop this war? Greta where are you ? Oh Rockstar, time will tell. Ah look at stuff and find me on DAY Z. When i'm not there i'm playing the best SubSim game Silent Hunter 3 Ah, how can you playt it. 2nd hard drive and you must have the old 9.c full stuff . any who .

[Jimbuna]

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer says “the culture of politics" needs to change in light of the investigations into allegations of gambling on the general election.

On Tuesday, it emerged the Gambling Commission was looking at a fifth Conservative - Russell George, a member of the Welsh Parliament - for betting on the date.

The commission is also investigating Kevin Craig, who was a Labour candidate in Suffolk, for betting on himself to lose - he says he made a "stupid error"

BBC Newsnight learns that up to 15 Conservative Party candidates and officials are being looked at by the Gambling Commission.

Earlier Conservative Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride defended PM Rishi Sunak's handling of the scandal, insisting he took "very decisive action"

Coming up at 20:15 BST: Sunak and Starmer face each other in the final head-to-head TV debate of the campaign.

[Jimbuna]

Surely this idiot will lose his seat next week.

George Galloway says he trusts Vladimir Putin more than Keir Starmer

George Galloway told Piers Morgan that he trusts Vladimir Putin more than Sir Keir Starmer.

The MP for Rochdale was challenged on his comments during an appearance on the presenter’s Uncensored show on Talk TV broadcast on Wednesday, 26 June.

Explaining his view, Mr Galloway said it was because he “doesn’t trust, automatically, any politician.”

Mr Morgan took issue with Mr Galloway’s comments, remarking: “You seem to have brought into Putin’s whole justification, as [Nigel] Farage has, ‘He was provoked. He had no option’.

“[Putin] will attack where he smells weakness.”
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/george-galloway-says-he-trusts-vladimir-putin-more-than-keir-starmer/ar-BB1oWo03?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=eb01a99e2076487295d42e310965694d&ei=25

[Moonlight]

^That'll depend on how stupid those Muslim voters are, me thinks they'll be cutting off their noses to spite there faces again, a pound to a penny says they're thicker than a brick, any takers. :haha:

[Rockstar]

Nigel Farage, the man who wants to be the UK’s answer to Donald Trump

Populist politician who formed anti-EU pact with ruling Conservatives is back to engineer party’s demise

Dan Sabbagh
Tue 4 Jun 2024 12.41 EDT

https://amp.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jun/04/farage-the-maverick-who-inflamed-uks-brexit-vote-is-back-to-haunt-rightwing-allies


“Thus far, it is the dullest, most boring election campaign we have ever seen in our lives. And it’s funny because the more the two big party leaders tried to be different, the more they actually sound the same,” declared the British anti-immigration populist Nigel Farage as he announced on Monday his intention to stand in the UK’s general election.
The 60-year-old anti-EU party leader has failed seven times to be elected to Britain’s Westminster parliament but his entry into the fray – only a week after he insisted he would not stand so he could help campaign for Donald Trump in the US – has dominated a so far lacklustre election campaign at the start of its second full week.


It is not certain Farage will be elected this time either, but the chief interest in his decision to return to lead Reform, his political vehicle, is the impact it will have on Britain’s ruling but faltering Conservatives. Under the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, they already appear to be heading for a heavy defeat at the hands of the left-leaning Labour opposition, led by Keir Starmer, when the election takes place on 4 July.
At a 40-minute press conference at the Glaziers Hall, a prestigious London venue close to the River Thames, Farage pursued an anti-establishment argument. He claimed Britain faced an “immigration election” – though he exaggerated the numbers coming in to settle, claiming that all those who entered the UK to work or study in the past year intended to remain permanently.
A week earlier, more controversially, Farage in a television interview had declared a “growing number” of young Muslims in the UK do not subscribe to an undefined set of British values. The conclusion was based on a single poll in April commissioned by a rightwing thinktank that highlighted that a quarter of Muslims surveyed believed Hamas had committed murder and rape in its deadly attack on Israel on 7 October.

Other polls of British Muslims, taken earlier this year and not referenced by Farage, report that 86% of respondents believe Britain is a good place to live when it comes to people having the chance to thrive.
In Britain, the Conservatives have been in power since 2010, but under Sunak, they trail Labour by 20 percentage points according to an average of the opinion polls. Translating that accurately into an election result is difficult, but one analysis, released on Monday an hour after Farage’s launch event by the researchers YouGov, suggests the rightwing party would win only 140 out of 650 parliamentary seats – its worst result since 1906.
And this does not take into account Farage’s personal entry into the election campaign. Despite his past electoral failures, Farage, ironically a former member of the European parliament, remains one of the UK’s best-known and polarising politicians, who came to the fore in the early 2010s. By then he was a persistent campaigner for Britain leaving the European Union – resulting, in the now popular shorthand, in Brexit.

While Trump was able to take over the Republicans in the US, Farage’s principal achievement was to exercise pressure on the Conservative party from outside. He helped force the former prime minister David Cameron to call a referendum on the UK’s EU membership, in the belief he would win it.
The Conservatives split over the issue and Cameron misjudged the public mood. Britain narrowly voted out in the summer of 2016, Cameron resigned, and the result was hailed by Trump as “a great victory” a few months before he won the US presidency.
After the Brexit vote, Farage languished, without a guiding cause. He became a presenter on the rightwing news channel GB News in 2021, at that time a media novelty in the UK, and periodically tried to ignite public concerns about migration into the UK via “small boats” across the Channel from France. But it was clear from his remarks over the past couple of days that he sees in the current election situation an opportunity to be near the centre of attention.

“Starmer has won this election,” Farage declared on Monday, as he suggested his Reform party, now polling about 11%, could overtake Sunak’s party on 22%. “I genuinely believe we can get more votes in this election than the Conservative party. They are on the verge of total collapse,” he said, repeatedly accusing the party of failing to reduce immigration to the UK. In other interviews on Tuesday he added that he could stage a reverse takeover of the Conservatives at some unspecified point in the years ahead.
The rhetoric is calibrated to attract publicity and rightwing votes, but the reality is not helped by Britain’s electoral system, based entirely on small single-member constituencies, which favours large well-established parties.
Farage’s plan is to run in Clacton, a modest seaside town in Essex, 55 miles north-east of London, one of the few places that has previously elected a member of parliament for one of his predecessor anti-EU parties. But the Conservative majority he has to overturn is a hefty 24,702. He got off to a shaky start on Tuesday when what appeared to be a banana milkshake was thrown over him on his first day of campaigning as he left a pub in the town.

Anthony Wells, head of European political and social research at YouGov, argues Farage’s move is all about last-minute timing. “Britons already knew Farage was the leader behind the scenes – the question is what is the short-term impact from the publicity boost from his announcement.
“Most likely it will prevent the Conservatives being able to take his votes, but there is a non-zero chance that if Sunak’s party continues to do badly, there could be a tipping point and Farage gets ahead.”

[Moonlight]

You're starting to piss me off posting this old news Rocky, it's 3 weeks old you bleeding muppet, start checking the time stamps or even better, stick to posting your bollocks in the US Politics thread. :up:

[Rockstar]

You're starting to piss me off posting this old news Rocky, it's 3 weeks old you bleeding muppet, start checking the time stamps or even better, stick to posting your bollocks in the US Politics thread. :up:

I can’t it help it, we’re in a different time zone here! Like posting an article with 9 month old quotes from Trump ‘in his own words’ that have been taken out of context. ;)

Anyway this is just 3 days old news from the kingdom. Looks really super important I never knew Farage was such an influential dude.

NewsUKUK Politics

Nigel Farage claims Donald Trump ‘learned quite a lot from me’

The Reform UK leader said Donald Trump was watching his speeches in the Euroeapn Parliament before deciding to run for president

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nigel-farage-donald-trump-reform-uk-b2567520.html

Nigel Farage has claimed former US president Donald Trump “learned a lot” from studying his speeches before he ran for office.

But the Reform UK leader has denied he was Britain’s version of Mr Trump, and said: “I think we’re very different but I think we think the same on many things.”

Mr Farage, who was speaking in an interview with ITV’s Tonight programme, added: “He’s learned quite a lot from me, I think it goes both ways … He was watching my speeches in the European Parliament for many years … before he decided to run.”

When asked if the former president had told him this, Mr Farage replied: “I know that to be true.”

Mr Farage is close to and has repeatedly praised Mr Trump.

Prior to his decision to join Reform UK earlier this month, the party’s candidate for Clacton had said he planned to help Mr Trump with his presidential campaign this year.

But he has since admitted: “If I’m elected the MP for Clacton, and I’m there every Friday … it’ll become more difficult but not impossible.”

On the interview, to be aired on Monday night, Mr Farage also repeated again his claim that the West “provoked” Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

The initial remarks from his interview with Nick Robinson on Friday has led to wide criticism from across the political spectrum. Home Secretary James Cleverly accused him of “echoing Putin”.

When asked how he would deal with Mr Putin, Mr Farage told ITV that Western leaders should pursue peace talks.

He said: “I think the number of lives being lost is horrific. There have been no sensible, substantive negotiations of any kind and even if negotiations to try and find a peace, to try and find a way through, fail, I think it’s better to have those negotiations than not.”

Mr Farage also told ITV he has an issue with migrants coming to Britain and continuing to speak their own language.

Mr Farage was giving the interview as his party threatens to inflict further damage on the Tories, with polling suggesting Reform UK is catching up in terms of the share of a vote at the general election

Rishi Sunak has not been helped over the weekend by the growing betting scandal which Michael Gove described as damaging.

[mapuc]

So the establishment see him as a laughing joke this man Mr. Nigel Farage.
(According to the news here)

How high is his chances to win any seats ?
How popular is he among the people in UK ?

Markus

[Jimbuna]

So the establishment see him as a laughing joke this man Mr. Nigel Farage.
(According to the news here)

How high is his chances to win any seats ?
How popular is he among the people in UK ?

Markus

Farage has stood for election to the House of Commons seven times, in five general elections and two by-elections, losing in each.

[Moonlight]

The Establishment don't like change Markus unless they're organising it, Farage knows he's got some screwballs in his party and that's going to concern the voters, we've got enough nutcases in the 2 main parties without adding some Reform nutters to that list.

As for seats in Westminster, Reform will need a huge number of voters to even get one MP elected, I don't think they'll be having a good day come polling day, but you'll not know till the votes are in.
As for popularity, there's more voters that dislike Farage than will like him, he's a marmite character and that will probably go against him.

That's my take on this election, Sunak, Starmer, Davey and Farage, none of them have a good popularity rating so it's difficult to work that one out, and at the end of the day who the hell cares.

[Jimbuna]

The Farage faithful know he’s a fraud but they don’t care

Call it confirmation bias. The media were the ones who wanted endless debates – the public would have been happy with one or two at most – and so it was inevitable that the media would declare them to be important waypoints on the campaign trail. But were they?

Sure, the debates were picked over forensically, but strip out the sound and fury and you’re left with very little we didn’t already know. Rishi Sunak might have been even more thin-skinned and tetchy and Keir Starmer rather more wooden than we might have imagined but this is all surface trivia. Nothing new in concrete policy terms was revealed. Just the familiar half-truths and evasions with which we are all too familiar. Manifesto pledges that almost certainly won’t stand contact with reality.

Time and again, Rish! has played the trust card. The country can rely on him to tell the truth. Sometimes you can only think he is taking the piss. On a masochistic urge to self-destruct. Because within minutes of him bleating on about integrity, the Tory press office was masquerading as “Tax Check UK” on Twitter, pumping out fictitious claims about Labour’s policies. The man who wants to be believed has no regard for the truth. He just looks needy, corrupt and desperate.

Meanwhile Nigel Farage can hardly believe his luck. Having started the campaign as very much the outsider, not even planning to stand as a candidate, he is now living his very best life. Things could hardly have gone better.

With the Tories lurching from crisis to crisis – insulting the vets at the D-day commemorations and then the insider gambling ring – and Labour offering a don’t-rock-the-boat, safety-first approach, the campaign has been low on energy. A low-wattage endurance test. Hell, no one said politics was meant to be fun, but some hope would be nice. Promising to make things a little less **** doesn’t really cut it. And there’s no vacuum into which Nige won’t jump head first. Anything for some attention. He’s learned his narcissism at Donald Trump’s knee.

The queue outside the Rainton Arena in Houghton-Le-Spring, near Sunderland, snaked back at least 100 yards. And that was at 11am, an hour before the start. While Sunak and Starmer have gone out of their way to meet as few members of the public as possible – one or two strictly controlled photo ops per day – Nige adores an old-fashioned rally. And it seems this crowd in the north-east are also more than up for it. They are looking for a politician who will make them feel good about themselves. One who talks to their insecurities and plays on their prejudices. Forget the policies, stay for the LOLs.

After brief warmup acts from two local Reform candidates, Farage takes the stage to some loud techno music pumped out through some ageing speakers, flashing lights and an indoor firework display. The audience rises to its feet to join in with the fun. Nige just stands there, lapping it up. He can’t get enough of the applause. It’s what nourishes him. He’s not here to make a difference. He’s here to feel whole. Without a crowd he’s uncertain whether he actually exists. Deep within what passes for his soul there is an emptiness that can never be filled.

But there is undeniably a connection. One that Sunak and Starmer would kill for. One that allows Nige to get away with almost anything. Because you’d expect a crowd like this to have worked out Farage long ago. A posh, establishment boy with no real interest in the north-east. Just another politician passing through. Yet their scepticism is put on hold. They appear to buy into his act entirely. They know he’s a fraud but they don’t care. At least he’s an entertaining fraud. A voice of disaffection. They like him not for what he is but for what he’s not. He’s not a Tory and he’s not Labour.

Let the show commence. And this is a show more than a speech. Nige’s time working the neocon circuit in the US over the past four years has paid dividends. He now has the air of a televangelist who you know will be arrested for tax evasion in a matter of hours. Asides to people in the front row. Conversational rather than oratorical. You half expect him to interrupt his flow and make an appeal for donations to his favourite charity. The Bank of St Nigel. And it would have been no surprise if half the 1,000-strong audience hadn’t handed over their credit cards.

He talked for well over half an hour. No notes needed because this was a greatest hits event. All to celebrate his own greatness. He couldn’t believe he had packed out the arena in a matter of days. A humblebrag. He’d have been devastated if no one had turned up. He was really connecting with the young people. Only, the crowd looked almost entirely middle-aged or older. He had always been right about everything. Nige is never slow to say I told you so.

Then into his familiar tropes. The country wasn’t working. You couldn’t move without someone wanting to rob or kill you. Probably a foreigner. Farage would be devastated to find out that most people aren’t afraid to walk the streets. People should be proud of their history, he said. Though not confident enough in it to question it. Nige doesn’t do critical thinking. Not his style. Keep your prejudices and hatreds mainstream.

Immigrants. Too many of them. He’d always said so. Even when there had been very few. Leave the ECHR. Join Russia and Belarus. “We must not set people apart from one another,” he said. That’s literally what he does. Then a few vague promises. Pay less tax. Though no mention of how he would pay for anything. Brexit, though with no apology for his part in its failure. Double down on Ukraine, though skip over his apparent support for Putin (although he has denied this, saying he dislikes Putin and is opposed to the invasion). It was all deeply unpleasant stuff. Nige in his element. The thrill of power with no responsibility. He’d be devastated to find himself prime minister.

Come the end there were no questions. Nige likes it best that way. And so does the audience. Because questions might puncture the mood. Because very little of what he says bears examination. In that respect, he’s even worse than the career politicians he claims to despise. At least Starmer and Sunak try not to deal in fantasies. Well, not all of the time.

But you can’t deny the numbers. You may hate it, but Nige is reaching parts of the country that no other party is. And it is all about him. If Dicky Tice were still in charge, Reform would be also-rans. People like him because he legitimises their anger. Gives voice to their discontent. He tears things down with no thought for a rebuilt future. Next week he will be in parliament. Don’t say you haven’t been warned.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/the-farage-faithful-know-he-s-a-fraud-but-they-don-t-care/ar-BB1p0SY5?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=c4d4486dfa134d359657a04ff4a27e52&ei=100

[Rockstar]

BREAKING: U.K. is becoming a third world country.

https://youtu.be/Ap8L2qbDSjY

[Kptlt. Neuerburg]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KORjH2FPXXA&t (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KORjH2FPXXA&t=)

[Jimbuna]

@ Kptlt. Neuerburg

I enjoyed that :)

[Rockstar]

'Record' number sleeping on streets of London

Published: 27 Jun 2024 - 03:43 pm | Last Updated: 27 Jun 2024 - 03:45 pm

https://m.thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/27/06/2024/record-number-sleeping-on-streets-of-london

London: The number of people sleeping on the streets of London has hit a record high of nearly 12,000, latest figures showed Thursday, as the impact of the UK's cost-of-living crisis bites.

Britain, the world's sixth-biggest economy, saw decades-high inflation in 2023 and a shortage of affordable rental properties over recent years.

Some 11,993 people were seen rough-sleeping in the capital in the year to March -- up 58 percent in a decade and the highest number recorded in a single year, according to Homeless Link, the body for groups dealing with homelessness in England.

In 2013-14, the number of people sleeping on the streets stood at 7,581.

Homeless Link chief executive Rick Henderson called the figures "appalling" and said the government that comes out of a July 4 general election should form a cross-party plan to tackle the problem.

He said "genuinely affordable and secure homes" need to be delivered quickly with properly-funded services to "help people address the root causes of their destitution and move on from rough sleeping for good".

At a medical centre for the homeless in east London, the demand for services had "definitely... increased in the past couple of months", said Mimi Hassan, an administrator at Health E1.

However, Hassan said she had not seen the issue raised enough by politicians during the election campaign. "We are helping as much as we can", Hassan told AFP.

"But how much can we do?"

UK nationals made up 45 percent of those sleeping rough, according to Homeless Link figures. Of the rest, nearly a third came from countries in Africa, Asia, the Americas and Australasia, while about a quarter were from Europe.

Homelessness charity Crisis said the overall figures were "deeply shameful and highlight the desperate need for the next government to get a grip on this crisis".

Charities and campaigners have long called for a government commitment to build 90,000 social rent homes a year.

[Jimbuna]

Conservative leader Rishi Sunak has condemned a racist term used about him by a Reform UK campaigner, saying: "It hurts and it makes me angry"

A Reform UK campaigner working to get Reform leader Nigel Farage elected as an MP was filmed by an undercover Channel 4 team making a racist comment about the PM

Reform said those making "unacceptable comments" would no longer be part of Farage's campaign.

Earlier Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was challenged by voters on his party's plans to impose VAT on private school fees, as well as pensions and the NHS, during a phone-in on BBC Radio 5 Live.

With less than a week to go until polling day, the Lib Dems are focusing on dentistry, while the SNP's John Swinney says he "would work with Labour" on the Scottish gender bill if Labour is elected.

[mapuc]

the SNP's John Swinney says he "would work with Labour" on the Scottish gender bill if Labour is elected.

Smells like they would work with the devil himself if they can get a second referendum.
(If this sentence is too strong then delete it)

Markus

[Moonlight]

^Nothing wrong with it Markus.

Yep, that Scottish gender bill will have the warning bells ringing in Starmer's ears, they can join the warning klaxons over recognizing Palestine as a state as well, it will be a rocky road he'll be travelling on if he's going to go down that route and his tyres are going to get punctured.......a lot. :up:

[Rockstar]

BBC spent £30k of licence fee payers' money on audience members for election debate

By FRAN WINSTON, Showbiz Reporter



The BBC spent more than £30,000 of licence fee payers' money hiring audience members who were asked not to heckle during the TV election debate between Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer.

The Express can exclusively reveal that Wednesday's fiery debate, which saw the Prime Minister and Labour leader go head-to-head, was completely made up of paid-for audience members provided by a marketing company.

The 150-strong group, who were told not to heckle, were each paid £150 "disturbance money" and £30 towards their expenses, meaning at least £27,000 of licence payers' money was used.

Alongside those in the studio, there were 15-20 more in reserve who did not make it on screen but were equally compensated, meaning up to another £3,600 was spent.

The BBC said the payments are standard for such events to cover people’s travel costs and time.

The money dished out to audience members is believed to be part of what the BBC paid the third-party polling company Savanta for it to recruit an audience for the debate.

Savanta then outsourced the job to another market research company called Roots.

A source who was in the debate audience explained to the Express how they were approached. They said they have previously been paid to work on projects for Roots so they were on the company mailing list.

They said: "I got an email asking if I would be interested and I said yes.

"I think they wanted people who lived in the Midlands, basically. They got back to me and asked me lots and lots and lots of questions. I'd had to fill in a questionnaire before they spoke to me," they said.

After answering questions and having a screening over the phone the source was told they were booked but also that they might not make the audience. "They warned me that I was being booked I might not actually get him to the venue," they said.

"So, when we arrived, quite a few people were given wristbands, and they were told that that meant that there was a chance that they will not be attending live. I think it's the same with a lot of these things that they oversubscribe because they know that they're going to get dropouts."

Asked how many people in the audience were paid, they said: "Everybody, every single person in the audience was paid either by Roots or Savanta." They said, this included the people who did not make the cut.

"They were getting exactly the same money. They could remain in the holding area and continue to have food and drink or they could just go home. It was entirely up to up to them. But we were all treated absolutely equally whether we got into the venue or not," they said.

Once inside phones and handbags were taken away from the audience. The source said they were told "in no uncertain terms" not to heckle. "We were allowed to clap, we were allowed to mutter but we were not allowed to heckle," they said.

"The fact that they paid this money was to make sure that we turned up. They're making it worth your while. If you're not being paid anything and you get a better offer you're gonna take it but by paying us that money, then we are going to commit. So I completely understood why we were being paid. I actually thought that was a good way of doing it."

A BBC spokesman said: “The Prime Ministerial debate had an equal number of people who intend to vote Conservative and Labour, as well as some undecided voters. The audiences for our debates – between Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer last night and for the seven-party debate earlier in the campaign – were selected by our third-party supplier Savanta to reflect a broad range of political perspectives.”

The spokesman pointed out it is standard for these types of debates to offer audience members a flat disturbance fee to cover travel costs and their time.

The spokesperson said: “Audiences for our election debate programmes are managed by a third party supplier, Savanta, and as such we are unable to disclose their costs due to commercial confidentiality. We always have value for money firmly in mind when delivering our programmes for audiences and keep costs low where possible.”

They added: "Audiences for our election debate programmes are managed by a third party supplier, Savanta, and as such we are unable to disclose their costs due to commercial confidentiality. We always have value for money firmly in mind when delivering our programmes for audiences and keep costs low where possible."

The spokesman added that the BBC went through a "rigorous" procurement process before engaging Savanta as a supplier.

Tickets for BBC programmes are available to apply for online and currently viewers in Scotland can fill out an online form to be part of the Debate Night audience.

The Express contacted Roots about the recruitment process but we were told they "aren't allowed" to give out information. Savanta was also contacted for comment.

[Jimbuna]

Smells like they would work with the devil himself if they can get a second referendum.
(If this sentence is too strong then delete it)

Markus

Nothing wrong with it Markus and one I personally strongly agree with.

[Rockstar]

Reform & Brexit supporters utter racist homophobic and islamophobic comments as they campaign for Nigel

Nigel Farage 'dismayed' at comments from Reform campaigners in Clacton

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c7227027mdnt

Reform UK have condemned campaigners for the party who were recorded making racist, homophobic and Islamophobic comments while campaigning to elect Nigel Farage as MP.
Undercover filming by Channel 4 News within the Reform UK campaign in Clacton, where Farage is standing for office, also uncovered an apparent admission the party has breached the local electoral campaign spending limit in the seat.
Alongside canvassers, the report also revealed comments by several of Farage's senior aides.
Reform UK said those making "unacceptable comments" will no longer be part of Farage's campaign.
Responding to the footage Farage said: "I am dismayed by the reported comments of a handful of people associated with my local campaign, particularly those who are volunteers.
"The appalling sentiments expressed by some in these exchanges bear no relation to my own views, those of the vast majority of our supporters or Reform UK policy. Some of the language used was reprehensible.

[Moonlight]

Moment furious BBC caller tears into Keir Starmer for flip-flopping on protecting women's spaces and tells him 'half the population is sick of the absolute twaddle that comes out of your mouth'

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13580269/Moment-furious-BBC-caller-tears-Keir-Starmer-flip-flopping-protecting-womens-spaces-tells-half-population-sick-absolute-twaddle-comes-mouth.html

A super majority for Labour, I don't think so? every time I've watched him he seems clueless about how to achieve anything, he criticizes his opponents but he never reveals what he's going to do. Rishi has a plan, it's not the greatest plan I've ever heard but at least he's got one, it's time Starmer either put up or shut up.
Labour voters have always been thick and that twerp Starmer is relying on that fact, I'll give you a warning here and now, what you've been through this last 14 years with the Tories is going to look like a teddy bears picnic to what Starmer and Rayner are going to do.

Up to 60,000 migrants set for Rwanda could be granted asylum under Labour

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/up-to-60-000-migrants-set-for-rwanda-could-be-granted-asylum-under-labour/ar-BB1p2w5E?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=5404302fc3ea41ddb5c9fd7e80a2af72&ei=25

And so it begins, there'll be a new Political Party on the block in 20 years time and it wont have many white UK voters in it, no, they'll be from Migrant stock.
Christianity?, it's on it's last legs in this country anyway, no, they won't want any of that nonsense interfering in their beheadings, Freedom, no, none of that either, what they will have though is restrictions on travel, they won't want anyone stirring up trouble and if they do they'll be executed.

That's the future I see, if you disagree with it you can post your version of the future right here and now, come on, get on with it. :o

[Kptlt. Neuerburg]

@ Kptlt. Neuerburg

I enjoyed that :) Cheers!

[Catfish]

[...]
[B]News UK Politics
"Nigel Farage claims Donald Trump ‘learned quite a lot from me"
Lmao :D

[mapuc]

Hmm could you call
Trump, Farage and Le Pen for axis of court fools ?

Markus

[Moonlight]

Hmm could you call
Trump, Farage and Le Pen for axis of court fools ?

Markus

Oooh Markus, I thought you were better than that. don't fall for the establishment drivel, they want things to stay the same the world over, if that's made your life better or wealthier then it's worked out for you.
I suspect it hasn't, and if that's the case the status quo needs a good kick in the balls and a new approach is needed, fair enough, a new way might be even worse for you but, you'll never know until those people named in your post have had a go at things. :up:

[mapuc]

Oooh Markus, I thought you were better than that. don't fall for the establishment drivel, they want things to stay the same the world over, if that's made your life better or wealthier then it's worked out for you.
I suspect it hasn't, and if that's the case the status quo needs a good kick in the balls and a new approach is needed, fair enough, a new way might be even worse for you but, you'll never know until those people named in your post have had a go at things. :up:

I tried to be funny...sorry for having misjudge it totally.

These 3 politicians have had no influence on my well being.

Markus

[Moonlight]

^Hey Markus, I can give you lessons on British humour you know, it's £25 per hour for 4 hours a day, the course lasts 6 months, the ladies love it and if you fail to impress them you can always have a laugh about it in bed, what say you.

[Jimbuna]

https://i.postimg.cc/MZYjDYDm/449456665-791927406402444-3164231288882435532-n.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[Jimbuna]

Boris Johnson: Voters don’t want Starmer, they’re just fed up with the Tories

Boris Johnson has urged “fed up” Tories not to risk handing Sir Keir Starmer the keys to No 10 despite the fact they cannot stand his policies.

The former prime minister said many voters viewed the Labour leader with the same enthusiasm “as you might look at a dish of limp lettuce”.

He added there was “still time between now and Thursday for the nation to swerve from the cliff edge” if voters “collectively come to [their] senses”.

Mr Johnson acknowledged that there was widespread apathy towards the Conservatives but urged people not to turn to Reform in response.

Writing in his column for the Daily Mail, he warned that Britain was on the brink of “a Left-wing socialist supremacy that lasts for a decade or more”.
“Starmer’s own approval ratings are shockingly low – the lowest ever for an Opposition leader on the verge of entering Downing Street, let alone of a triumph on the scale currently predicted,” the former prime minister said.

“The people view him with apathy, with resignation, as you might look at a dish of limp lettuce. You have to ask yourself why.

“Why, after 14 years of Tory government, and all the vicissitudes we have been through, is there so little active enthusiasm for Starmer?

“The answer is simple. People don’t really want him, or his agenda – or certainly not in the way they actively wanted Tony Blair.”

In a sign of thawing relations with Rishi Sunak he also praised the Prime Minister’s performance in this week’s BBC debate against Sir Keir.

He said that Mr Sunak had “showed what he can do and on any fair reading he won” by picking apart Sir Keir’s policies on illegal migration.

Mr Johnson said the Labour leader had no plan to stop the boats and would “junk” the Rwanda scheme just as it is starting to work as a deterrent.

He also warned that Sir Keir wants to take Britain back into the EU’s Single Market “like a whipped cur, even if it means free movement”.

But the former prime minister said the “biggest single reason why people are rightly viewing Starmer with such hesitation” was because of the economy.

“Do the British people want to be hit with yet higher taxes now after they have already paid so much? Do they really need to?” he asked.

“No, they certainly do not – and yet that is what Starmerism means. The Labour Party is now so confident of victory that they no longer even bother to conceal their agenda to clobber your property and your pension and much besides.”

Mr Johnson warned disaffected Tory voters that “the more you dig into Starmerism, the more Left-wing and dangerous it turns out to be”.

He added: “That is why Starmer is so oddly unloved, for a man on the verge of triumph. It is not just that Starmer lacks Blair’s charisma – he lacks the broad appeal of Blair’s policies.

“Let’s face it, the only reason Starmer is (allegedly) about to get such a landslide is that so many Tory voters are fed up, and preparing to stay at home or vote for other parties like Reform – even if they turn out to be Putin’s pet parrots.

“It would be a huge mistake. It is by no means too late to tilt the steering wheel in the direction of common sense, avert Starmergeddon, and prevent this country from going in completely the wrong direction.”

A YouGov poll earlier this month showed that Sir Keir has a net minus 12 favourability rating, with 39 per cent of voters viewing him positively and 51 per cent negatively.

Mr Sunak is far more unpopular with the electorate, however, on minus 51, with just 21 per cent seeing him favourably and 72 per cent viewing him unfavourably.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/boris-johnson-voters-don-t-want-starmer-they-re-just-fed-up-with-the-tories/ar-BB1p4Tya?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=d8646ff4f09f470285a0453da88d7310&ei=68

[Moonlight]

Starmer for Prime Minister?.

The Labour Party and this supposedly Super Majority they're going to have, where did that come from?, I expect it came from a poll of a couple of thousand voters and they've applied it all over the country.
I think Starmer will be hugely disappointed come polling day as he sees that Super Majority slither up his own ass, lets take a closer look at what Starmer is going to do if he becomes Prime Minister.

Palestine.
Recognizing Palestine as a state, the knock on effect of that decision is going to have a huge impact on how the UK is going to be treated around the world in the next 5 years.

Muslim Vote.
The fall out from the Muslim vote was there to see in the council elections, Labour will suffer greatly if those results are mirrored in the General Election, and I'm certain that their activists will be out in force, encouraging, threatening and coercing their community to vote for these activists candidates instead of a Labour one.

Women's Spaces.
Moment furious BBC caller tears into Keir Starmer for flip-flopping on protecting women's spaces and tells him 'half the population is sick of the absolute twaddle that comes out of your mouth'

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...mes-mouth.html
Why would Starmer annoy half the bleeding voters, is he that confident of victory that he thinks he can win with out the women's vote, wow, such arrogance from the boring pillock.

Immigration.
Their continuing silence on how they're going to tackle this problem is deafening, but if you look in the right places and listen carefully it's all there in black and white.

Up to 60,000 migrants set for Rwanda could be granted asylum under Labour
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world...80a2af72&ei=25

That word "Could" above should be changed to "Will", not only is Starmer Stupid, he's Devious and Dangerous too.

The Economy.
The last time they were in charge of the economy they completely screwed it up, ****, I don't know what their plan is this time and I don't think Starmer knows what it is either, but he's either going to implement Stealth Taxes or he's going to screw a certain part of the populace, and when that isn't enough to cover the bills, he's going to screw the rest of us.

I'll give you a warning here and now, Starmer is going to make things worse for all of us, I hope I'm wrong, but those "Death Knell Bells" I keep hearing are getting louder and louder every day.

[Jimbuna]

Spending on defence and support for veterans will be the focus of campaigning for Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer on the final weekend before the election.

Labour and the Conservatives both insist they are the only party that will support defence personnel, as their leaders mark Armed Forces Day.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey is spending the remaining five days before the election on a 1,300-mile UK tour.

Meanwhile, Security Minister Tom Tugendhat has said there is a "pattern of racist and misogynistic views" within Reform UK

On Friday, Reform UK's Nigel Farage was asked why his party "attracts racists and extremists" in a special edition of BBC Question Time.

Farage said his party had withdrawn support to candidates who made offensive comments and that people in all parties said "bad things"

[Jimbuna]

Rishi Sunak: I’ll still be Prime Minister on Friday :har:

Adefiant Rishi Sunak said the Tories can still win the General Election despite languishing in the polls as he claimed the UK is a better place to live now than in 2010.

The Prime Minister defended the Conservative record in government against what he described as a “declinist narrative” while he faced questions about the state of public services and the economy.

Mr Sunak said it was “completely and utterly wrong” to suggest Britain’s standing has diminished since Brexit, claiming “people are queuing up to work with us because they respect what we do”.

“It’s entirely wrong, this kind of declinist narrative that people have of the UK I wholeheartedly reject,” he told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme.
“It (the UK) is a better place to live than it was in 2010.

“Of course I understand that the last few years have been difficult for everyone”.

He cited the pandemic and the war in Ukraine driving up energy bills, insisting “we are now on the right track”.

It was put to him that the UK has become poorer by many measures over the past 14 years the Conservatives have been in power, and that public services are deteriorating.

“I just don’t accept that,” Mr Sunak replied.

“Our schoolchildren are now the best readers in the western world.”

Asked whether he thought he would still be in Downing Street after the election next week, Mr Sunak said: “Yes. I’m fighting very hard and I think people are waking up to the real danger of what a Labour government means.”

Labour said the remarks were “excruciating” and accused the Prime Minister of appearing to “gloss over the concerns of ordinary working people.”
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/rishi-sunak-i-ll-still-be-prime-minister-on-friday/ar-BB1p96b0?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=9758d4a4747b446285daf9d23f7a616f&ei=16

[Jimbuna]

Parties are ramping up their election campaigning with just three days left to convince voters ahead of the polls opening on Thursday.

Sir Ed Davey urges people to "do something you've never done before - vote Liberal Democrat" during a bungee jump in Eastbourne.

PM Rishi Sunak hits out at Labour on immigration, saying the party has "no answers" when it comes to securing the UK's borders.

While Sir Keir Starmer asks voters to judge him in five years' time against improved public services, the economy and living standards.

SNP leader John Swinney is pressed about his party's plans for independence, as well as the gender reform bill and NHS, during an audience phone-in on BBC Radio 5 Live.

The Green Party is calling for a £22bn cash boost to fix what it calls “crumbling hospitals”, while Reform UK's Ann Widdecombe tells Woman's Hour about the party's plans to protect women's spaces.

[Moonlight]

It's all political posturing to the braindead masses you know, not one of these pillocks has the knowhow to fix the mess that they've caused. We're all going to get screwed whoever gets to run the country, so just batten down the hatches and accept your fate.

I'm more interested in who's not going to run the country than who is, the Independents, currently there are 17 of them, will it increase or decrease. I've seen the witches brew stewing and the witches ball as well, it was showing flashes of the future, it's too early for a definite answer because Magmar came back into the room, I think the Independents are going to increase, by how many, I know not.
We shall see on Friday if the snippets of the future I saw was enough to make an informed decision, it wasn't enough to bet on the winner though.

[Jimbuna]

^ Yeah, we are in one hell of a mess with no end in site :yep:

[Rockstar]

Over there your journalists are writing puff pieces describing to you how Americans wish we had a government like yours.

Over here our journalists inform us just how screwed up things really are over there.



Brexit Backlash: Brits Now Regret Their Populist Revolt

As the U.K. heads to the polls next week, a majority thinks that leaving the EU was a mistake and has delivered few benefits—and new problems.

By
Max Colchester, David Luhnow and Josh Mitchell

June 28, 2024


In 2019, Boris Johnson rode to a big election win on a promise to “Get Brexit Done” and finally strike a deal with the European Union for Britain’s departure. Next week, the Conservative Party that delivered Brexit goes to the polls again, this time facing a deficit of more than 20 percentage points and almost certain defeat by the opposition Labour Party. The only question, it seems, is the scale of the wipeout for the hapless Rishi Sunak and his Tories.
Eight years after the referendum, it is safe to say Britain has a serious case of “Bregret.” About 65% of Brits say that, in hindsight, leaving the EU was wrong. Just 15% say the benefits have so far outweighed the costs. Most blame the decision itself, others blame the U.K. government for not taking better advantage of it, and still others say Brexit suffered from bad luck: It took effect shortly before the pandemic and Ukraine war, both of which distracted the government and damaged the economy.
In the years since 2016, Britain’s economy has slowed to a crawl, growing an average 1.3% versus 1.6% for the G-7 group of rich countries overall. By putting up barriers to trade and migration with its biggest trading partner, Brexit slowed trade and hurt business investment. It caused years of political turmoil as Britain debated how to untangle itself from the EU. And it deeply polarized the country, half of which saw it as a unique chance to regain British sovereignty and half of which felt it had to apologize to Europe for jumping ship. It has left Britain exhausted and its self-confidence dented.

“I’m angry,” says Steve Jackson, a burly taxi driver and part-time construction worker in Boston, a town of 70,000 in eastern England. Boston is known in England for having the country’s tallest parish church, as the birthplace of several founders of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and as the country’s euroskeptic capital, with 75% of voters having chosen, eight years ago this month, to leave the EU.
But many people here who backed Brexit feel betrayed. Jackson said that none of the promises made by politicians who lobbied for Brexit have come true: higher wages, cheaper food and energy, more money for healthcare, and less immigration. “We’ve been lied to—lock, stock and barrel.”
Despite the disappointment, polls show that only a slight majority of Brits want to rejoin the EU and fewer think it is realistic, not least because the bureaucrats in Brussels are unlikely to welcome back their troublesome former partner with open arms. They would probably insist on new conditions like joining the euro single currency and a guarantee that Britain wouldn’t simply leave again in another decade or two. In both London and Brussels, there is a sense that Britain should now do what it does best: Keep calm and carry on. Labour, the likely election winners, say they just want to make Brexit work better.
Brexit was the first in a series of populist earthquakes to rock western politics, followed soon after by the election of Donald Trump. Both will go down in history as revolts by those who felt left behind by globalization, taken for granted by traditional politicians and looked down on by urban elites. Both set in motion forces that are still playing out.
The sunlit meadows
Those who championed Brexit said that it would allow the U.K. to take back control over issues like trade, regulation and immigration that it had ceded in joining the EU decades earlier. Johnson promised voters a Britannia unchained from a slow-growing and bureaucratic continent. “We can see the sunlit meadows beyond. I believe we would be mad not to take this once in a lifetime chance to walk through that door,” he said. A month later, 52% of the country agreed.
Brexit meant different things to different people. For many working-class Brits, it offered the hope of less immigration and less competition from low-wage workers. For some in business, it offered the prospect of a capitalist Britain charting its own course—a Singapore-on-Thames. Many in Europe openly worried that Britain might actually succeed and provide a blueprint for other countries to quit the EU.

Today no one in Europe loses much sleep over that threat. Goldman Sachs estimates that the British economy is 5% smaller than it otherwise would have been without Brexit, though it is hard to untangle the effects of the pandemic and the war in Ukraine. The National Institute of Economic and Social Research, a U.K. think tank, estimated that Brexit has resulted in a lost annual income per capita of £850 (over $1,000) since 2020.
After the 2007-08 financial crisis, investment spending in the U.K. had recovered faster than the combined average of the EU, U.S. and Canada, according to research by Nicholas Bloom, a British economist at Stanford University. But from 2016 through 2022, U.K. investment was 22% lower than the others. Businesses spent years unsure what new regulations they’d face and whether they’d still have export markets in Europe. Many held off spending to wait for clarity.
“Suddenly, Brexit happens, it goes sideways,” says Bloom. “You’re in a race, and the cars are going around the track, neck and neck, and then your car gets a flat: That’s U.K. investment.”

Investment is now finally picking up again, but businesses still face hurdles. Early this year, the U.K., after four years of delay, released a set of rules on border checks for European imports, including inspection requirements for food. But shortly after, shops like German Deli, a specialty shop in east London, had trouble finding inspectors with the time to certify the imports, forcing it to cut back on everything from liver pâté to German meatloaf, says Susann Schmieder, the shop’s account manager. Sales in March fell by 25%. “We had the first sausage delivery from our usual supplier in May after it took them four months to sort everything out—the paperwork,” she says.
David Frost, a former British diplomat who spent months in Brussels negotiating the free-trade deal Britain struck with the EU back in 2020, says that he gives Brexit a score of “6 out of 10,” and argues that it is still too early to pass judgment.
Britain is joining the Trans Pacific Partnership, an Asia-based trade club. It is introducing regulatory reforms to bolster its financial center, including axing an EU cap on banker bonuses. It is overhauling its agricultural subsidies and introducing tweaks to labor-market rules to lessen administrative burdens on employers. It hopes to have a lighter regulatory footprint than the EU on artificial intelligence.
Frost says that Britain should have gone further. “Overall, the wish was to change the way things have been for the last 20 or 30 years. And we haven’t really done that,” he says.
Loss of faith
Beyond the economic hit, Brexit has become a byword for unkept political promises and poor governance. Britain wrestled back control but then struggled to exercise that power. Politicians could no longer simply point the finger at faceless EU bureaucrats.

Perhaps the most surprising policy response to Brexit was the U.K. government’s decision to allow a sharp increase in legal migration to help prop up the economy. In the last two years, 2.4 million people have been allowed to come and settle in Britain, dwarfing

any such influx before. The government is now tightening rules, but for many who voted for better control of the borders, it has come too late.
Disappointment is palpable here in Boston, where Polish supermarkets and delicatessens inhabit old Victorian buildings and teams of migrant workers in high-visibility vests work the nearby fields. In the last generation, Boston’s population increased by a third, largely as Eastern Europeans came to work and live there. According to a 2021 census, 20% of the Boston population describes themselves as not British.
Anton Dani, who runs the Cafe de Paris in Boston’s main square, enthusiastically backed Brexit. Dani is an immigrant himself. Born in southern France to Moroccan parents, he moved to the U.K. decades ago and set up his own business. He wants a more competitive Britain and likes immigration but thinks that too many people enter the U.K. to take advantage of government benefits.
Today Dani says he is angry. Migrants have continued to come from Europe to Boston, he says, pointing to a group of Romanians walking past his cafe. Life in Boston meanwhile hasn’t noticeably improved, he adds. “We have achieved nothing,” he says. “You learn what you already knew: That politicians are liars.”
Today a record 45% of British people “almost never” trust the government to give priority to the nation’s interest, up from 34% in 2019, according to a 2023 poll by the National Center for Social Research. “Some people will say Brexit’s been an absolute economic disaster,” says Raoul Ruparel, a director at the Boston Consulting Group who advised former Prime Minister Theresa May on Brexit. “I think it was actually a much bigger political disaster.”

Matt Warman, the local Conservative lawmaker, won 76% of the vote in Boston in 2019, campaigning on the message “Get Brexit Done” and a promise to “level up” forgotten places around the country by improving their social and economic prospects. Today he is fighting for political survival. Some polls show him losing the district to an upstart anti-immigration party called Reform UK.
Sitting in a hotel bar on a recent day, Warman concedes that his party dropped the ball on immigration, but he says there were real trade-offs after Brexit. The local farming industry continued to need cheap labor to function, and the local hospital needed nurses, he says.
Politicians can say “I have a great idea, it is really simple,” says Warman. “And if you then turn out not to be able to deliver your really simple solution, because the solution isn’t really simple, people wonder whether they weren’t lied to in the first place.”
Problems that remain
Brexit has become an example of what the American political scientist Aaron Wildavsky called “The Law of Large Solutions.” As he saw it, big policy solutions intended to fix a big problem often just create a bigger problem, which then “dwarfs the [original] problem as a source of worry.”
For years, Brexit engulfed the British government. In 2018, lawmakers spent 272 hours debating the EU Withdrawal Act, while a full third of the U.K. Treasury’s civil servants worked on Brexit-related matters. The opportunity cost meant that other problems festered while British talent and resources were all aimed at untangling the relationship with Europe.
“If you think about Britain’s big problems, Brexit solved none of them: the crumbling public services, weak economic growth, a shortfall of housing and a need to modernize the energy infrastructure,” says John Springford, an economist at the Centre for European Reform think tank in London. “We’ve lost eight years.”

A few miles north of Boston, Will Grant, who runs Fold Hill farm, spends a sunny afternoon driving around his flat fields of wheat. He voted for Brexit because he believed Johnson was credible, and he was impressed by the business leaders who advocated for the project. “I am not going to apologize for voting for it. But I am not proud of voting for it,” says the 35-year-old. “To think about what we wasted. All that oxygen talking about it, all the words written, all that time spent,” he says. “And this is the result: Something that is minorly bad.”
Once outside the trade bloc, Britain had to in-source a lot of administration that had previously been handled at an EU level, from trade to food and medicine regulation. Since Brexit, the U.K. civil service has expanded by around 100,000 people.
The British government copied and pasted nearly 50 years’ worth of accrued EU laws into its own statute books, pledging to amend or remove unsuitable ones. It first estimated there were some 2,000 laws it needed to import. The actual number sits at 6,700 and rising. Just a third have been amended or jettisoned.

Even Brexit’s central aim of reclaiming national sovereignty proved complicated. To quit the EU, the U.K. agreed to place a customs border through its own country to avoid inflaming sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland. The U.K. province of Northern Ireland remains aligned with EU law in some areas to ensure goods can flow without customs checks between it and the Republic of Ireland, an EU member.

Politically, Brexit is now coming full circle. In 2016, when then Conservative leader David Cameron called the referendum, it was in part to neuter euroskeptics in his own party and another upstart politician: Nigel Farage, a cigarette-smoking populist with a big grin who had launched the UK Independence Party, drawing millions of votes from the Tories on a platform to quit Europe.
Now Farage is back, with a campaign charging that Brexit has been betrayed and immigration left unchecked. His Reform U.K. party will likely siphon hundreds of thousands of disillusioned Brexit supporters from the Tories. Farage says he wants to then engineer a reverse-takeover of the party.
The man whom Brexit was supposed to sideline now wants to run to be prime minister when Britain is due to hold its next election in 2029.

[mapuc]

^ Yeah, we are in one hell of a mess with no end in site :yep:

Since you and millions of other UK voters have been voting for the last 30-40 years, you have a part in this mess. Sad to say.

Markus

[Jimbuna]

The same could be said of every voter in the free world Markus.

[mapuc]

The same could be said of every voter in the free world Markus.

Indeed they could-We have a responsibility when we vote.

Markus

[Jimbuna]

Totally gobsmacked at the result of this poll but on second thoughts....it is the Express.

Express readers vote for their favourite UK political leader - the result was a landslide

As the general election approaches, Express readers have given their opinion on their favourite party leader in UK politics.

The General Election will be held this week on July 4 following Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's announcement on May 22 to dissolve parliament.

Labour leader Keir Starmer said in response to the announcement that the election is the "moment the country's been waiting for", as the Conservative party has been the primary governing party since 2010 in the UK.

In a recent Express poll asking our audience who they deemed to be the most likeable UK political party leader, Nigel Farage emerged with an astonishing 65 percent of the votes, gaining the approval of 8,013 readers.

Farage's party Reform UK has been poaching furious Conservative voters and was recently found up one point to a whopping 21 percent compared to last week in an exclusive poll.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who garnered 22% of Express readers' votes, has openly criticized Nigel Farag for suggesting Ukraine should enter peace talks.

Trailing behind, Labour Party leader Keir Starmer obtained only 5% of our audience's approval, standing at 567 votes.

Despite his unpopularity with Express readers, Starmer's Labour is expected to win a majority on July 4, according to several polls showing that Labour may win by an even bigger landslide than Tony Blair in 1997.

Speaking at an event on Sunday 30 June, Starmer said: "We'll need a clear mandate for this change, don't doubt that. And if you don't believe me, take a good look at the Tories. Chaos under Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, two politicians who never had a clear mandate."

"Don't forget what they have done, don't forget Partygate, don't forget the Covid contracts, don't forget the lies, don't forget the kickbacks, don't forget the cronyism, don't forget the division, the scapegoating of minorities, the failure to invest, the trips to the bookies, [and] the decimation of your public services.

"Telling working people 'we're all in it together', the people who hurt your family finances, swanning around the House of Lords, after giving tax cuts to the richest one per cent that crashed our economy. Don't forget any of it."
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/other/express-readers-vote-for-their-favourite-uk-political-leader-the-result-was-a-landslide/ar-BB1pcpaJ?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=774695552a9a482a8bc5758e3367d15c&ei=37

[Moonlight]

I don't know anyone who reads that rag, they must be the far right Tory nutcases I've heard about.

[Rockstar]

Indeed they could-We have a responsibility when we vote.

Markus

Why Markus, you’re beginning to sound like a populist. ;)

[mapuc]

Why Markus, you’re beginning to sound like a populist. ;)

I myself haven't voted since 2002. Reason the politicians can't be trusted and they make a mess or have made a mess.

When I wrote responsibility I meant that either you don't vote or pick a politician who work for the countries best.

Markus

[Jimbuna]

A second Reform UK candidate has defected to the Conservatives, saying the "vast majority" of party nominees are "racist, misogynistic and bigoted"

Georgie David, standing in West Ham and Beckton, denies Reform's senior leadership is racist, but says she does not want to be "directly associated" with its candidates.

Reform chairman Richard Tice accuses the Conservatives of "dirty tricks", saying they are offering candidates "jobs and safe seats" to defect.

Earlier, Rishi Sunak denied he has given up on victory and warned of what he called the "dangers" of a Labour government.

But Wes Streeting said people would be better off under Labour, while being pressed on how the party would pay for its pledges.

Meanwhile, Royal Mail insists there is "no backlog of postal votes" after some people said their ballot had not arrived.

[Jimbuna]

https://i.postimg.cc/nctNnLph/Untitled.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
https://i.postimg.cc/sD9qxRg9/Untitledb.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[Jimbuna]

I never thought I'd see this during my lifetime.

The Sun backs Labour saying it's 'time for change'

The Sun newspaper has endorsed the Labour Party in the general election, declaring "it is time for a change".

In an editorial, external the paper, which has backed the Conservatives at every general election since 2010, said Rishi Sunak's party had become "a divided rabble" and needed "a period in opposition to unite".

The tabloid said there were "still plenty of concerns about Labour", including its immigration plans, but leader Sir Keir Starmer had "fought hard to change his party for the better".

The Sun has only ever backed the party to get the most MPs at every election, going as far back as Margaret Thatcher’s first victory in 1979.

However, its influence has been diminished in recent years as newspaper circulations have fallen.

In 1997, when the paper backed Tony Blair's Labour Party, the Sun sold four million copies a day.

Now its daily print readership is believed to be around 600,000, although it does not make these figures public.

Sir Keir said he was "delighted" to have the paper's backing.

Taking questions from journalists on a campaign visit in Scotland, the Labour leader said: "I think that shows just how much this is a changed Labour Party, back in the service of working people."

In its editorial, the paper said Prime Minister Rishi Sunak "has many policies which we support".

However, it added: "Taxes have ballooned to the highest level since World War Two. Plotting against the leadership has been endless. Sleaze scandals - most recently gambling on the timing of the election - have broken public trust.

"Put bluntly, the Tories are exhausted. They need a period in opposition to unite around a common set of principles which can finally bring to an end all the years of internal warfare."

It said the ideas of Nigel Farage's Reform UK party "struck a chord with millions" but said it was "a one-man band which at best can only win only a handful of MPs and can never implement its policies".

"The Liberal Democrats, meanwhile, are a joke - with a leader who has spent this most depressing of campaigns pulling ridiculous stunts," the paper said.

"Which means that it is time for Labour."

The paper praised Sir Keir for his support for Ukraine and Israel, his efforts to tackle anti-Semitism within Labour and his focus on economic growth.

However, it also voiced concerns about the party, claiming it did not have "a clear plan for getting a grip on immigration" and would put up taxes.

"[Sir Keir] has a mountain to climb, with a disillusioned electorate and low approval ratings," it said.

"But, by dragging his party back to the centre ground of British politics for the first time since Tony Blair was in No10, Sir Keir has won the right to take charge."

Sir Keir was England and Wales's chief prosecutor in the run-up to the trial of senior staff accused of phone hacking at Rupert Murdoch's News International, the predecessor to News UK, which is the publisher of the Sun.

Former Sun editor Kelvin MacKenzie suggested, external this was one reason the paper had not given an early endorsement to Sir Keir's party.

In previous elections, it has declared its backing to parties much earlier. This time it has left it until polling day, when the printed edition of the newspaper will hit the streets.

The paper's front page endorsement for Labour, external does not mention the party's name or its leader.

Instead, it alludes to criticism of England manager Gareth Southgate, declaring: "As Britain goes to the polls, it's time for a new manager (and we don't mean sack Southgate!)"

Over the weekend the Financial Times and the Sunday Times, which is also owned by News UK, joined the Daily Mirror, the Guardian and the Independent in backing Labour.

The Scottish Sun, which has previously endorsed Labour, the Scottish National Party and the Conservatives, has also come out in support of Labour, external.

Meanwhile, the Daily Mail, the Daily Telegraph and the Sunday Express have backed the Conservatives.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd1751vv0z7o

[mapuc]

A change to what ??

If your politicians are the same as in every democratic countries-The changes will most likely be raised taxes and extra taxes on climate change improvement

Markus

[Jimbuna]

A change to what ??



Markus

That is the million dollar question Markus and one I doubt anyone knows the answer to.

[Skybird]

Its time for the Blair Witch Project! :sunny:



:D

[Jimbuna]

https://i.postimg.cc/7YVyQwVC/111.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[Moonlight]

If you're voting for a change to better your finances you'll not get it with the Tory or Labour party, we're ****** if we do vote and we'll be ****** if we don't vote, ****, I should have gone to New Zealand when I was asked to go.
What will happen after today?, that's an easy one, the Labour party are going to **** up bigtime and different factions within the Labour party are going to fall out just like the Tories did.
Kneeling Starmer and that ginger haired currant beside him are the two most dangerous idiots to be given the keys to the Treasury, the whole country is gonna go down the toilet. :o

[Jimbuna]

I take it your not voting Labour then?

[Moonlight]

Not Tory, Labour, Reform or the Libdems, I've voted for an Independent, it's not the best decision I've ever made and it's not the worse one either but, I will not be a willing party to what happens next.

I've tossed things up in the air and it's not what they've said that concerns me, it's what they haven't said that should concern everybody, good luck in voting for Starmer and the ginger haired currant, you are going to regret it. :O:

[mapuc]

Here in Denmark it is forbidden to show or tell how you have voted-On which party or politicians.

It is however ok to tell it before the election.

It doesn't look like a landslide to me-It was said before the election that Labour would win with a landslide.

Edit
It is a landslide just seen the polls from BBC
End edit

Markus

[Skybird]

As was expected we see an almost two-thirds landslide victory for Labour, but I think less due to a love for Labour and more out of frustration and anger with the Tories.

Problem is, any new government will need to cook the tea with the very same water as the government(s) before. And who says the new tea brand tastes better than the old one?

[Moonlight]

Yep, the Tory MPs have caused this and now they'll go into the political wilderness, there should be some big Tory scalps for the Labour party tomorrow, I wonder if Rishi Sunak will be one of them?.

[mapuc]

The British/UK people have given Keir Starmer a lot of trust.

They have solely given him the key to the chest. Is he a responsible politician? Will he take Britain or UK out of the mess you say Britain or UK are in.

To be honest I don't know whether the election to your Parliament is for every citizens in UK or only for British citizens.

Markus

[Gorpet]

As was expected we see an almost two-thirds landslide victory for Labour, but I think less due to a love for Labour and more out of frustration and anger with the Tories.

Problem is, any new government will need to cook the tea with the very same water as the government(s) before. And who says the new tea brand tastes better than the old one?

Well as long as America is cooking your tea. It all taste the same, Right ? Ask Zelensky how his tea tastes, Damn good !

Then again the Germans, are lacking in their tea.How will that tea taste , With German boots on the ground again ?

Look , All of Americas soldiers have seen the video's. Their all getting pregnant as fast as they can , here they can claim to be anything they want.So LOL , Hope you have a Nuclear weapon. To use on your own self. Politicians are what they are. OH damn i forgot about Argentina

[Moonlight]

I wanted 4 MPs gone from Westminster this Election, I got two of them so it's not all been Doom and Gloom.
The 4 MPs were,
Rishi Sunak
Jacob Rees-Mogg
Jeremy Hunt
George Galloway

Sunak will resign or be ousted by the Tories in late September, can he stay on as Shadow Prime Minister?, yes, they've got no one else with the balls to take the job on.

Jacob Rees-Mogg, the smarmiest bastard ever to become an MP, good riddance to bad rubbish.

Jeremy Hunt, the thickest man to ever wear a suit, clung on to his seat by less than a 1,000 votes, next time you currant, next time.

George Galloway, disliked by both the Tory and Labour party, a twat who will nail his flag to any cause that will make the most trouble, good bye, **** off and farewell, hopefully for ever.

The Muslim vote was a Damp Squib and so too was the Women's vote, they've still got J.K Rowling and Sharron Davies to fight for their cause but, the rest of the women have surrendered to the Trans Misogynists, this was your chance to speak up ladies and you blew it, the next fight will be you taking a knife to a gunfight, you stupid twats.

In the next few days new MPs will be sworn in and I believe they'll be voting for a New Speaker around the same time as well.

The Kings Speech will be the time the Labour party will put forth their vision for this parliament, nothing of any significance will be done until that Kings speech though.

[Platapus]

When will we see the riots and the storming of Parliament?


What? You Brits have a peaceful change of power???:up:

[Skybird]

AdG titles "More of a landslide defeat than a landslide victory." I think that nails it. I see not much love for the "victor".

[Jimbuna]

Not Tory, Labour, Reform or the Libdems, I've voted for an Independent, it's not the best decision I've ever made and it's not the worse one either but, I will not be a willing party to what happens next.

I've tossed things up in the air and it's not what they've said that concerns me, it's what they haven't said that should concern everybody, good luck in voting for Starmer and the ginger haired currant, you are going to regret it. :O:

I also voted Independent actually.

[Jimbuna]

https://i.postimg.cc/7hM2tyyV/111.jpg (https://postimg.cc/bSrrdWrD)

:haha:

[Von Due]

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cn09xn9je7lt

The work of change begins immediately,' says Keir Starmer in first speech as prime minister. "Like this morning. I changed my underwear. My wife changed the house rules so she now holds ALL the power there, and my son changed his name to Smith"

Well, good luck to the UK but changes? What politically suicidal maniac would suggest that?

[Moonlight]

I also voted Independent actually.
Don't take offence old boy, I was just trying to wind you up. :up:

SUPER MEH-JORITY Brits have ‘turned their backs’ on major parties, expert says as 80 per cent did NOT vote for Labour & Sir Keir Starmer

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/28988348/brits-turned-backs-major-parties-vote-labour-keir-starmer/

If true then that's very interesting, Labour increased their vote by just 2% the Tories vote share was minus 20%, Labour didn't win the election, the Tories handed it to them on a silver platter.

Interesting Fact.
Nigel Farage's Reform UK comes second in staggering 98 seats

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/nigel-farage-s-reform-uk-comes-second-in-staggering-98-seats/ar-BB1psbUk?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=aab5ae589b9c4aa2ad74258fdeda9cc4&ei=15

Another fact is that.
Nigel Farage’s Reform has won just four seats with their share of the national vote translating to a staggering one million votes for each of their new MPs. In contrast Sir Ed Davey’s Lib Dems won 3.5 million votes and gained a huge 71 seats thanks to the first past the post system.

This voting system needs an overhaul, the FPTP model favours the bigger parties too much.

[Jimbuna]

Non taken, just sometimes I can't be bothered to look for an appropriate smiley.

[Jimbuna]

Who's in Keir Starmer's new cabinet?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0veg88g7jyo

[mapuc]

The voters have send two messages to the Cons and Labour.

To the Tories-We have had enough of you buzz off.

To the Labour-We have given you the key to number 10 do not fail.

Markus

[Jimbuna]

Where Rishi Sunak will live now - former PM's breathtaking property portfolio

Rishi Sunak may have had a disappointing night - but at least he has an array of gorgeous houses to mope about in as he recovers from his election day blow.

Following a crushing landslide defeat - which saw 12 Cabinet casualties - Mr Sunak has announced his resignation as party leader, making room for incoming PM Sir Keir Starmer. Having been in office for one year and 254 days, Mr Sunak is one of the shortest-serving PMs in British history, but has at least lasted significantly longer than his predecessor, Liz Truss, who spent a woeful 49 days at the helm of the party.

The Tory party leader, 44, will likely be remembered for his extraordinary wealth, with him and wife Akshata Murty worth an estimated £651 million as per the most recent Sunday Times Rich List. To put this in context, this makes the couple richer than King Charles III, who is estimated to be worth 'just' £610 million, as of May this year.
As you might therefore expect, the Sunaks' property portfolio also rivals the Windsors, and they'll be spoiled for choice when it comes to which one to head to next after vacating Number 10...

First flat
Mr Sunak bought his first flat in South Kensington back in 2001, during his days working as an investment analyst for Goldman Sachs. Nowadays, the finance whizz turned politician uses his starter home for visiting families to stay in.

The former PM spoke of his pride in the property during his ITV debate with incoming PM Keir Starmer. Touching upon the issue of home ownership among young people, he declared: "I want everyone to feel what I felt when I got the keys to my first flat."

Kensington mews House
Mr Sunak purchased his five-bedroom mews house in Kensington in 2010 - one year after his wedding to Akshata. Nowadays, it's used as the family's London base, and it's here where Mr Sunak enjoys weekends with Akshata, and their two young daughters, Krishna and Anoushka, after a long working week spent in parliament.

As reported by Homes and Garden, it's believed the Sunaks paid £4.5 million for the property, which is now worth an estimated £6.6 million.

Grade II-listed Georgian manor house
Away from the city, the Sunaks also owns a Grade II listed Georgian manor house in the North Yorkshire village of Kirby Sigston. Mr Sunak purchased the beautiful 19th-century former vicarage, which comes with 12 sprawling acres of land, for £1.5 million in 2015.

In August 2022, it was reported that the period property would be undergoing an extensive £400,000 makeover, with the loaded family splashing out on a new swimming pool, gym, and tennis court.

Santa Monica bolthole
Should Mr Sunak tire of the UK, then he can always fly over to California, where he first locked eyes with wife Akshata as a young graduate student at Stanford University. Long before entering political office, Mr Sunak ran a hedge fund in Santa Monica, and it's here where, in 2014, the couple purchased a luxury penthouse apartment on Ocean Avenue.

With views overlooking the Pacific, this £ 5.5 million pad makes for an idlyllic location, and some have speculated that the family could well make a fresh start here following his election defeat.

While meeting with Mr Sunak in San Diego last year, US President Joe Biden joked: "I want to welcome you back to California - he's a Stanford man, and he still has a home here in California. That's why I'm being very nice to you, maybe you can invite me to your own home in California."

Responding to digs about this rumoured move at the G20 summit back in June, Mr Sunak insisted he would remain as an MP for the full five years of a new parliament. Despite losing out on the number one job, Mr Sunak has kept his seat in Richmond, and at the time of writing has not indicated any plans to move across the pond. As we moved forward into a new era of Labour rule, however, with a severely weakened Tory party, the future for former top leaders remains to be seen.

In a resignation speech given this morning, Mr Sunak apologised to defeated candidates, and took responsibility for the brutal Tory cull, which saw big beasts such as Grant Shapps, Penny Mordaunt, Gillian Keegan and Johnny Mercer lose their seats.

Mr Sunak said: "I am sorry, I have given this job my all but you've sent a clear signal that the Government of the United Kingdom must change." Praising victor Sir Keir, Mr Sunak added: "He is a decent, public-spirited man who I respect. He and his family deserve the very best of our understanding as they make the huge transition to their new lives behind this door."
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/where-rishi-sunak-will-live-now-former-pm-s-breathtaking-property-portfolio/ar-BB1pttO3?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=4a54cac7725b41b7aaec6f1e6c2e40f6&ei=22

[MGR1]

Here's the result for Aberdeen North: LINK (https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/news/uk-general-election-2024-aberdeen-north-result).

Well done, Reform, you let the Nats back in by splitting the vote.:doh:

Mike.:/\\!!

[Jimbuna]

Yes I was quite surprised at how poorly the SNP came out of it all.

Will that be the end of talk of independence though?

[MGR1]

That's a fairly easy one to answer and the nature of the devolution settlement is the key.

The majority of day-to-day government decisions regarding Scotland aren't made at Westminster like they are for England. Westminster just sends the block grant north and the devolved government decides how the money is allocated and spent.

This means that the decisions that the Tories are getting the blame for in England are actually made at Holyrood where it's the SNP, not the Cons, who hold the reins of power. Those that aren't reserved anyway, like immigration for example. Which isn't the hot topic up here that it is down Moonlight's way.

So people are more fed-up with the Nats than they are with the Tories.

Next years Holyrood election will be very interesting.

As for Independence, that's harder to say. An awful lot of Labour voters actually favour it.

Mike.:hmmm:

[mapuc]

SNP is as I understand it Scotlands biggest party. Now when they have lost almost every seat in the British Parliament I have to ask.

Which party won in Scotland ? Labour or ?

How many seats are there in the Scottish Parliament ?

Markus

[MGR1]

SNP is as I understand it Scotlands biggest party. Now when they have lost almost every seat in the British Parliament I have to ask.

Which party won in Scotland ? Labour or ?

How many seats are there in the Scottish Parliament ?

Markus

In terms of the Westminster constituencies, Labour are now the largest, so in that sense they've won.

The real decider as to who controls Scotland politically will be decided next year at the Holyrood (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_Parliament) elections. The current breakdown of numbers is detailed HERE (https://www.parliament.scot/msps/current-party-balance). There are 129 seats up for grabs next year, some FPTP and the rest decided by a list system.

Using the data from the Wiki article, the following matters are decided at Holyrood, NOT Westminster:



agriculture (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agriculture_in_Scotland), fisheries, animal welfare, and forestry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forestry_in_Scotland)
environment, land registration (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_registration) and use
food safety (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_safety) and food standards
consumer advocacy and advice (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection)
water and sanitation (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_supply_and_sanitation_in_Scotland)
the Crown Estate (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_Estate)
economic development (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Scotland) and inward investment (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inward_investment)
income tax on non-savings and non-dividend income (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Income_tax_in_Scotland)
issue of Scottish Government (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_Government) bonds (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bond_(finance)) to finance capital investment
Council Tax (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_Tax), Business rates (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_rates_in_Scotland), Air Departure Tax (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Departure_Tax), Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_and_Buildings_Transaction_Tax) and Scottish Landfill Tax (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_Landfill_Tax)
education (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Scotland) (early (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_childhood_education), primary (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primary_education), secondary (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secondary_education) and tertiary (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tertiary_education)) and training
Scots language (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scots_language) and Gaelic language (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_Gaelic)
health (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Healthcare_in_Scotland) and social care (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_care_in_Scotland)
abortion law
legal system (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scots_law), human rights (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights) and legal aid (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_aid)
civil (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scots_civil_procedure) and criminal (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_criminal_law) law
courts and tribunals (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courts_in_Scotland)
legal profession (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_profession)
police (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_Scotland) and fire and rescue services (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_Fire_and_Rescue_Service)
prisons (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_Prison_Service) and parole (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parole)
air gun (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_gun) licensing
alcohol licensing
hunting with dogs and dangerous dogs
civil registration (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_registration), census (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Census), demography (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demography), statistics (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statistics), national archives (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_archives)
planning permission (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planning_permission)
local government (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_government_in_Scotland)
culture (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Scotland), sport (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sport_in_Scotland), the arts, heritage and tourism (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism_in_Scotland)
parking controls, bus policy, concessionary fares, cycling, taxis and minicabs
railway services, franchising, and construction of new railways (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transport_in_Scotland#Railways)
road network, trunk road (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trunk_road) management, road signs (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic_sign) and speed limits (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_limit)
shipping, ports, inland waterways, harbours and ferries (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transport_in_Scotland#Ferries)
housing (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Housing_in_Scotland), homelessness (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homelessness_in_Scotland) and building standards
charities
onshore (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onshore_(hydrocarbons)) petroleum (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroleum)
heating and cooling
bank holiday
Sunday trading
welfare foods for pregnant women, mothers and children
devolved social security (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_security) benefits

As can be seen, there's a lot of things for people to be unhappy about with the SNP Government, not whoever is in power at Westminster.

Mike.:salute:

[mapuc]

Thank you Mike :salute:

Guess it will be interesting to see whether SNP will lose seats in Holyrood election, like they have in yesterdays election in the British Parliament.

Where they lost, what was it, 36-38 seats

Markus

[Jimbuna]

That's a fairly easy one to answer and the nature of the devolution settlement is the key.

The majority of day-to-day government decisions regarding Scotland aren't made at Westminster like they are for England. Westminster just sends the block grant north and the devolved government decides how the money is allocated and spent.

This means that the decisions that the Tories are getting the blame for in England are actually made at Holyrood where it's the SNP, not the Cons, who hold the reins of power. Those that aren't reserved anyway, like immigration for example. Which isn't the hot topic up here that it is down Moonlight's way.

So people are more fed-up with the Nats than they are with the Tories.

Next years Holyrood election will be very interesting.

As for Independence, that's harder to say. An awful lot of Labour voters actually favour it.

Mike.:hmmm:

Looks like interesting times ahead north of the border then :salute:

[Moonlight]

'TOUGH DECISIONS' Keir Starmer confirms Rwanda scheme is ‘dead and buried’ in first conference as images of new Cabinet emerge
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13606923/Call-Keir-Starmer-goes-informal-No10-press-conference-chuckling-new-PM-title-hints-tax-raids-plans-softer-prisons-chairing-Cabinet-Rwanda-plan-axed-Brexit-talks-railways-nationalised-ASAP.html

The Second Great British Screw Up Begins.
Two thirds of prisoners shouldn't be in prison, and the Rwanda Scheme is dead and buried, new Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has pledged to nationalise Britain's railways 'as soon as possible'.

No mention of which two thirds of prisoners will be released though, will rapists, paedophiles, armed robbers and drug dealers etc be amongst them?.
I suppose the Labour party can always rehouse those illegal migrants in a prison cell seeing as there'll be plenty of room for them.
As for nationalising the railways, it'll be too expensive, this stupid currant and the Labour party haven't a bleeding clue and that's why the Tories were ousted.

Not a good start Kneel Starmer.
Hey, we need some better emojis or what ever they call them, a slap icon thingie is desperately needed, make it so. :O:

[Jimbuna]

https://i.postimg.cc/3RYpn8vB/smacka-1.gif (https://postimages.org/)

[Jimbuna]

Since October 2023, some prisoners in England and Wales have been released early to avoid jails reaching breaking point.

The previous Conservative government introduced the policy and Sir Keir Starmer has said he will need to continue with it.

Here's how we got here:

Last October, then Justice Secretary Alex Chalk said prisoners serving jail sentences for crimes excluding serious violence, terrorism or sex offences could be released on licence up to 18 days early - and in May, that was extended to 70 days.

A separate temporary emergency plan was put in place in May, which saw trials delayed and some suspects held in custody released on bail.

The Scottish government rolled out a similar policy in June, which means offenders with fewer than 180 days left to serve of a term of less than four years can be considered for early release. It does not apply to sex offenders or domestic abusers.

Last November, judges were urged to issue fewer short prison sentences - but a bill, external which would have seen sentences of less than 12 months automatically suspended did not become law before the election was called.

Official figures , externalreleased on Friday show the prison population in England and Wales stands at 87,453, while the total usable capacity is 88,864.

In May, the Chief Inspector of Prisons - who supports early release schemes as a temporary fix - warned , external"the day we run out of places draws closer" and an "urgent conversation is needed about who we send to prison".

[mapuc]

Keir Starmer was riding on a wave into the Parliament-He really hadn't a politics himself-But with 12 years of Cons disaster, the People in UK was feed up with them.
This what was written in a Danish article yesterday.

Markus

[MGR1]

Looks like interesting times ahead north of the border then :salute:
Indeed. The percentage of voters who favour independence is very much stuck at the 40-45% mark with no sign of any decrease, regardless of how the Nats are doing as a party.

When nearly half of the population don't want to be British, something needs to be done.

Mike.

[Bilge_Rat]

So was crunching some numbers.

Labour got a huge majority, but actually received about 500k less votes than in 2019 (i.e roughly 9.8 million now vs 10.2 in 2019).

What gave them the huge majority was the fact that Conservative votes collapsed, but none of those votes went to Labour, it either went to Reform UK (up roughly 3.5 million votes) or they just did not vote (participation is lowest since 2001).

So this was not a vote for the left, but a vote against the existing Tory Govt. The new PM has a mandate, but he is on a short leash. If he is not careful, he could easily find himself out the door in 4 years.

[Jimbuna]

So was crunching some numbers.

Labour got a huge majority, but actually received about 500k less votes than in 2019 (i.e roughly 9.8 million now vs 10.2 in 2019).

What gave them the huge majority was the fact that Conservative votes collapsed, but none of those votes went to Labour, it either went to Reform UK (up roughly 3.5 million votes) or they just did not vote (participation is lowest since 2001).

So this was not a vote for the left, but a vote against the existing Tory Govt. The new PM has a mandate, but he is on a short leash. If he is not careful, he could easily find himself out the door in 4 years.

Precisely :yep:

[Jimbuna]

Sir Keir Starmer is due to make his first visit to Scotland as prime minister later on Sunday.

He is expected to meet First Minister John Swinney - whose SNP lost seats to Labour at the general election.

New Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds says "job guarantees" will be part of negotiations with steel giant Tata about its Port Talbot site.

But Reynolds also says new green steel production will mean fewer workers are required.

Ex-Conservative minister Robert Jenrick tells the BBC the "devastating" election result was because his party failed to deliver.

Another former minister, Victoria Atkins, says she thinks the country is still "instinctively Conservative"

[Moonlight]

Sir Keir Starmer hands peerage to expenses-scandal former Labour cabinet minister who said 'disgraced' people should not go to the Lords

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13608161/Sir-Keir-Starmer-hands-peerage-expenses-scandal-former-Labour-Cabinet-Minister-said-disgraced-people-not-Lords.html

The Labour party are just as bent as the Tories are, I don't think Starmer or Rayner will be complaining of cronyism in this parliament. :O:

[Jimbuna]

Both the two major parties are equally as bad as each other.

[Jimbuna]

Rachel Reeves promises to "get Britain building again" by bringing back housebuilding targets and overhauling the planning system.

In her first speech as chancellor, she says Labour will build 1.5 million homes in England - but won't give a "green light" to all housing developments.

She also promises to end the ban on onshore wind farms in England.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been in Wales, on the final leg of his tour of the nations. He says it's very important to "reset relations with Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales"

In Westminster, 334 new MPs have been arriving for their first day - they say it's "surreal" and feel "humbled" as they collect security passes and tour Parliament's vast estate.

[Moonlight]

^We haven't got an housing problem, we've got a people problem, as in too many migrants, why does these governments keep ignoring that fact?.

Labour to allow 100,000 migrants to apply for asylum

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/labour-to-allow-100-000-migrants-to-apply-for-asylum/ar-BB1pCXwM?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=80ceafe9f761410d919338ade3d19823&ei=64#

So that's how he's going to solve illegal immigration is it?, by making them not illegal, now that is ****ing brilliant. :O:

[Jimbuna]

Rishi Sunak's sofa gets turfed out of No 10 as vans continue to arrive

Moving vans were spotted outside Downing Street yesterday as Rishi Sunak’s belongings were removed to make way for Sir Keir Starmer’s family.

A Platinum Move lorry was parked outside the door of No 10, with movers photographed carrying a chest of drawers, blue sofa and plants.

On the same day as the outgoing Tory leader’s possessions were collected, the Prime Minister’s wife Victoria was seen leaving out the back entrance of No 10 wearing a blue shirt and white trainers.

This is just the latest as Mr Sunak continues to move himself and his family out of the famous house.

On Sunday a mattress, a sofa and a piano were spotted being carted out of Downing Street and into a bright yellow lorry from the Bishop's Move firm was parked around the back.

The Starmer clan are expected to move into Downing Street, although it is uncertain if they will choose the flat above No 10 or the larger space above No 11, previously occupied by several Prime Ministers since Sir Tony Blair.

Although the new premier admitted he had 'not unpacked quite yet'.

It has also been revealed how the new Labour PM's wife, Victoria, has been 'dreading' becoming a resident of Britain's most famous street.

Her friends also described the NHS worker as Sir Keir's 'rock', as well as a 'politically astute' primary confidante of the new PM who is 'able to cut through the bull****'.

Mr Sunak lived in the flat above No 10 while Mr Hunt had the larger flat above No 11.

PMs in recent years had favoured the No 11 residence, but Mr Sunak had lived above No10 as Chancellor and moved back in with his family when he became the premier.

During the general election campaign, Sir Keir admitted his teenage children were 'worried' about the prospect of moving into the iconic residence.

He said he and Victoria would 'fiercely protect' their children's privacy should he win power.

Sir Keir conceded that his 13-year-old daughter and 15-year-old son were likely to be fearful of the possible disruption to their normal routines.

But the Labour leader joked that they would probably 'ramp up their campaign' for a family dog to make up for the changes to their lives.

The Sunaks own multiple properties, including two houses in Kensington and a Yorkshire mansion worth more than £2million.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/blair-predicts-50bn-labour-tax-raid/ar-BB1pDmGD?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=649ebde8f9fe43b0af1cf30f3635369a&ei=47

[Moonlight]

Labour plot to make retirees ‘give up their full state pension' to fund Starmer's splurge

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/labour-plot-to-make-retirees-give-up-their-full-state-pension-to-fund-starmer-s-splurge/ar-BB1pEFmP?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=3cce06e3bfda49f18446dc7ad17d1471&ei=11

They kept that one quiet on the campaign trail even though they all knew about it, Labour politicians might think it's a good idea but, whether they can weather the storm of protest is another matter.

[Jimbuna]

One of the quickest ways to get people out on the streets.

[Jimbuna]

Prime Minister Keir Starmer hails the UK-US special relationship ahead of his meeting with President Joe Biden in the White House.

Starmer is in Washington for the 75th summit of the Nato defence alliance – his first international trip as UK leader.

“This is obviously a very special relationship we have between the UK and the US”, he says, with "a special aspect when it comes to defence and security"

Earlier, Starmer told reporters his plan to raise defence spending to 2.5% was "cast iron" - but refused to put a timeline on when it would happen.

On the other side of the Atlantic, hundreds of MPs are continuing to be sworn in.

The process - expected to take days - began yesterday with both Starmer and leader of the opposition, Rishi Sunak, being sworn in.

[Moonlight]

^There's never been a UK-US special relationship, what we've had over the years is one Prime Minister after another too eager to drop their pants and get shafted by one of those loudmouthed Yankee Blue Belly Presidents. :O:

I'll give two instances of a Prime Minister dropping his pants and we'll use Tony Blair as an example, Afghanistan and Iraq.

Give me two instances of any American President who has done a good deed for the UK and, you can use any time period.

[Jimbuna]

^ I think you'd be best served if you asked that question of our American members.

[Bilge_Rat]

I can think of a couple:

1. Lend-lease act 1940-41: FDR went out oh his way to push it through and try to help the UK, even though it was not politically popular in USA;

2. Marshal Plan, late 40s: It helped all of Western Europe, but the biggest recipient of aid was the UK, US$ 28 Billion in the 40s (back when a buck was actually worth something);

3. Reagan, Falkland War 1982: He backed the UK, even though a lot of his advisers said it would be better to stay neutral to maintain the relationship with South America.

4. Five Eyes: USA shares top secret intelligence with 4 select countries UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand (France is not on the list).

Obviously the relationship goes pretty much one way, the US views UK as just another minor power, like France or Italy, but that is just reality. The only two superpowers are USA and China and you have to choose a camp.

[Rockstar]

The U.S. point of view was we preferred the U.K. remain in the E.U. because as a member they had clout which could influence & steer E.U. policy that aligned with the goals of our relationship.

When the U.K. left the E.U. the so-called U.S./U.K. special relationship became lopsided. Trying to remain a global player and a contributing partner in our special relationship the U.K. went about building carriers to project power and we all know how well that went.

[Moonlight]

I can think of a couple:

1. Lend-lease act 1940-41: FDR went out oh his way to push it through and try to help the UK, even though it was not politically popular in USA;

2. Marshal Plan, late 40s: It helped all of Western Europe, but the biggest recipient of aid was the UK, US$ 28 Billion in the 40s (back when a buck was actually worth something);

3. Reagan, Falkland War 1982: He backed the UK, even though a lot of his advisers said it would be better to stay neutral to maintain the relationship with South America.

4. Five Eyes: USA shares top secret intelligence with 4 select countries UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand (France is not on the list).

Obviously the relationship goes pretty much one way, the US views UK as just another minor power, like France or Italy, but that is just reality. The only two superpowers are USA and China and you have to choose a camp.

Bloody Hell.
You're comparing financial aid to our British war dead?, that aid was paid back with interest on top of it by the way, so, how many lives have the USA lost in putting boots on the ground compared to our British dead then?.
I'll let you choose from three, would that be, None, None or None. :salute:

AFGHANISTAN BRITISH CASUALTIES 457 deaths

IRAQ BRITISH CASUALTIES 179

[Bilge_Rat]

Bloody Hell.
You're comparing financial aid to our British war dead?, that aid was paid back with interest on top of it by the way, so, how many lives have the USA lost in putting boots on the ground compared to our British dead then?.
I'll let you choose from three, would that be, None, None or None. :salute:

AFGHANISTAN BRITISH CASUALTIES 457 deaths

IRAQ BRITISH CASUALTIES 179

Well now you are just changing your tune because I caught you out. You ask for examples of US Presidents helping out the UK and I gave you a few. :salute:

[Moonlight]

Yep you did, although they are piss poor examples, I reckon the next time you start a war and ask for British help maybe we should throw you a couple of hundred quid instead of putting boots on the ground, seeing as how you like money so much more than dead bodies. :up:

[Moonlight]

Vaughan Gething ‘sacked wrong minister’ over leaked iMessages

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/vaughan-gething-sacked-wrong-minister-over-leaked-imessages/ar-BB1pOqnY?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=EDGEESS&cvid=790a3007982e426d8d4e275072c37a4e&ei=67

This Vaughan Gething currant should release any and all evidence he has or this sage will never come to an end, Hannah Blythyn has denied being the leak, and NationCymru revealed on Thursday that the former minister for social partnership “was not the source of our story” so who is right and who is wrong?.

Gething is making a pigs ear out of all this, setup a meeting between yourself, the IT team, Hannah and NationCymru and lets see what evidence you all have.

[Jimbuna]

A fight for the soul of the Tory party is inevitable. Rishi Sunak staying on may make it worse

When Tory MPs gathered on Wednesday night to hear Rishi Sunak address them for the first time since their worst election defeat, they were told to be on their best behaviour. The new chairman of the 1922 Committee, Bob Blackman, made clear to colleagues that they ought to behave respectfully – the last thing they needed was more bickering. “The suggestion was if you are angry, this wasn’t the right place to show it,” explains an attender.

In the Q&A session that followed Sunak’s speech apologising over losses, loyalty was the buzzword – particularly in reference to Suella Braverman, the former home secretary. She has been out and about recently, criticising Sunak and the Pride flag, and has not ruled out defecting to the Reform party.
But while most Tory MPs are playing nice for the time being, the question is how long this uneasy truce can last. This week, comments made by Kemi Badenoch at a shadow cabinet meeting criticising Sunak over parts of the election campaign were quickly leaked to the press. That the party cannot even agree on the timings for a leadership contest doesn’t bode well either.

The elephant in the room is how long Sunak will be willing to stick around. The former prime minister has suggested he will stay in place, but MPs suspect this is an offer with limits. “He is not going to want to be leader of the opposition for months on end,” one MP told me.

Plenty of Tory grandees have already chimed in with talk of the need to “take our time” rather than rush into a messy contest when wounds are still raw. The “go long” crowd are drawing inspiration from the 2005 Conservative leadership contest, when Michael Howard announced his intention to go but stuck around for several months to allow the party to regroup. That year’s party conference was seen as the starting gun on the contest, with every contender giving a 20-minute speech. David Cameron emerged as the frontrunner.

However, few in the party believe a young, Cameron-esque candidate will emerge to shake up the contest this time around. “Sadly we are not in a David Cameron moment, when someone electrifies the race, so there isn’t much point waiting,” says a colleague. “We know who the candidates are, we should get on with it. A lot of people who use the phrase ‘go long’ without any specific timing, it’s just an emotive reaction.”
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/other/a-fight-for-the-soul-of-the-tory-party-is-inevitable-rishi-sunak-staying-on-may-make-it-worse/ar-BB1pQE66?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=5457de9a61264416a7a4e82724112fa9&ei=107

[Moonlight]

I hear it's a straight catfight between Kemi Badenoch and Suella Braverman to become leader of the Tories, Kemi is a Tory wetback and Suella is a centre right Tory.

If the Tories go for Kemi they're going to get another Therese May, if you look at her voting stats you'll see that she voted for everyone of Therese May's policies, the Tory party will pick her as she has plenty of wetbacks as MPs to vote for her.

Suella is a Farage light MP, she knows those wetbacks have put the Tories in the position they're in and those wetbacks know it too. I think Suella is fighting a lost cause as CCHQ is also full of wetbacks as well, me thinks Nigel will be in discussions with Suella in the near future and she will probably join the Reform party as the Tories have become a lost cause for now.

[mapuc]

I hear it's a straight catfight between Kemi Badenoch and Suella Braverman to become leader of the Tories, Kemi is a Tory wetback and Suella is a centre right Tory.

If the Tories go for Kemi they're going to get another Therese May, if you look at her voting stats you'll see that she voted for everyone of Therese May's policies, the Tory party will pick her as she has plenty of wetbacks as MPs to vote for her.

Suella is a Farage light MP, she knows those wetbacks have put the Tories in the position they're in and those wetbacks know it too. I think Suella is fighting a lost cause as CCHQ is also full of wetbacks as well, me thinks Nigel will be in discussions with Suella in the near future and she will probably join the Reform party as the Tories have become a lost cause for now.

Who do you think would get the Tories back on track again ?

Markus

[Moonlight]

Suella Braverman would do it eventually but, there's too many progressives (wetbacks) who are against her. There's always the man of the moment, Nigel Farage but, he would have to quit Reform and join the Tory party, I don't think he'll do that, as for anybody else in the Tory ranks, they're all a bunch of second rate tossers. So there we have it, Tory MPs want Kemi and the voters want some one who isn't a wetback, disunited political parties don't win anything....

[Jimbuna]

Thousands of prisoners to be released in September

Thousands of prisoners will be released early at the start of September, the justice secretary has announced.

Shabana Mahmood warned of the "total collapse" of the prison system and a "total breakdown of law and order" without urgent action to ease prison overcrowding.

She accused Rishi Sunak and the previous Conservative government of a "disgraceful dereliction of duty" for not dealing with the crisis when they were in power.

Under her plan, some prisoners will be released after they have served 40% of their sentence in England and Wales, rather than the current 50%.

Ms Mahmood said she expected the first batch of prisoners released in September to be "in the low thousands", with further releases over the next 18 months and updates made to Parliament every three months.

Over the next 18 months, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) told BBC Verify it estimated up to 4,000 extra male prisoners and fewer than 1,000 female prisoners will be released under the new measures.

Sentences for serious violent offences of four years or more and sex offences will be automatically excluded from the change, as will the early release of offenders in prison for domestic abuse connected crimes, including stalking and choking.

Speaking at HMP Five Wells in Northamptonshire, Ms Mahmood said jails had been operating at 99% capacity since the start of last year and were now weeks away from running out of space.

If that happened overflow police cells would be filled, she warned, leading to "van-loads of dangerous people circling the country with nowhere to go".

She added: "Soon, the courts would grind to a halt, unable to hold trials.

“With officers unable to act, criminals could do whatever they want, without consequence.

"We could see looters running amok, smashing in windows, robbing shops and setting neighbourhoods alight.

"In short, if we fail to act now, we face the collapse of the criminal justice system. And a total breakdown of law and order."

The reason Ms Mahmood was painting such a bleak picture is she knows that allowing some prisoners out early will not be popular with many people.

She wants to stress that, in her words, she has been with “left with no choice at all” and she framed her speech around blaming the previous Conservative government for the crisis.

Labour has only been in power for a week and Ms Mahmood knows that the questions and criticism will quickly come her way if this scheme does not work or leads to a rise in offences.

Conservative Shadow Security Minister Tom Tugendhat said in a social media post: "In what world is releasing 20,000 criminals onto our streets a good idea."

However, early release is not new and the previous Conservative justice secretary Alex Chalk announced plans for some prisoners to be released up to two months early back in March.

Mr Chalk, who lost his seat at the general election, told the Today podcast there were also plans to go further and release some prisoners after 40% of their sentence – as being announced today – and to send fewer people to jail in the first place.

BBC News understands that several Conservative cabinet ministers supported the idea, but Rishi Sunak refused to sign it off and the election was called before the issue was resolved.

The Ministry of Justice's weekly statistics, external suggest there are currently 1,451 prison cell spaces left across England and Wales, and an increase of 1,161 inmates over the past 12 months.

The situation is so serious the “criminal justice system is on the brink of collapse” because “we are running out of space", a former prison governor has told the BBC.

Mark Icke, the Vice President of the Prison Governors Association (PGA), welcomed the announcement, saying the crisis is “unprecedented” and prison governors have been “warning for some time” that “we’ve got far too many prisoners in our system”.

The chief inspector of prisons Charlie Taylor said "this measure will inevitably lead to the early release of some risky offenders" but a decision on how to tackle the issue "needed to be taken and none would have been without risk".

Mr Taylor added the move would add to the workload of already stretched prison OMUs [Offender Management Units] and probation services" so prison inspectors "will be watching very closely" for its impact.

However, the aunt of murdered law graduate Zara Aleena has branded the plans a “dangerous gamble with the public safety”.

Ms Aleena was murdered by Jordan McSweeney nine days after he was released from prison and while he was in the process of being recalled after his licence was revoked for failing to meet probation officers.

Her aunt Farah Naz told BBC Breakfast that underfunding in the probation service, which monitors prisoners when they are released from prison midway through their sentence on licence, means offenders like McSweeney are not being properly supervised in the community.

“That's what happened in our situation," she said. "It was a man that was emboldened because he was not supervised. He was not assessed. He was constantly allowed to do what he wanted to do."

The Ministry of Justice is already building six new prisons to create an extra 20,000 places as demand grows for cell spaces, partially because of the Government's campaign to hire 20,000 more police officers.

About 6,000 spaces have been created and about 10,000 will be built by the end of 2025.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crg5vp0296eo

[Moonlight]

I have a solution to this prison overcrowding, it's a bit radical but I'm sure the genuine British public would go along with it, 10 buckets of water per prison every day, do I have to spell the rest out to you, chop, chop get on with it then.

[Rockstar]

I have a solution to this prison overcrowding, it's a bit radical but I'm sure the genuine British public would go along with it, 10 buckets of water per prison every day, do I have to spell the rest out to you, chop, chop get on with it then.

Or just send them to Australia. :D

[Jimbuna]

Labour’s first week: Eight key plans, and the challenges ahead

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqql0zlxkk6o

[Moonlight]

They'll try to fix them but they're all going to crash and burn, as usual the dickheads will start throwing billions of pounds at them but it never worked in the past and it wont work now. Typical Labour mentality, they love spending other peoples money and this little lot is going to cost billions, when the money runs out they'll be in a financial quagmire again.

[Catfish]

Well at some point you have to invest to improve things. Energy saving and the state a lot of infrastructure is in, has to be engaged sooner or later.
Putting the head in the sand because we cannot do anything anyway ... there are always so much reasons to do nothing. :03:

[Skybird]

Well at some point you have to invest to improve things. Energy saving and the state a lot of infrastructure is in, has to be engaged sooner or later.
Putting the head in the sand because we cannot do anything anyway .... :03:
Trust Catfish when he says this! He speaks as a German. We Germans know what we speak of when saying these ^ sort of things! :DDeutsche Bahn, bridges, road network, digitalization and fibre glass cable, energy reliability and energy affordability, pensions system sustainability...:salute: Glory future, here we come, you will all be ours!

[Moonlight]

EXCLUSIVE Rachel Reeves says she is rebuilding Britain for Keir Starmer - but her constituency has turned into a crime-ridden hell hole where bouncers check customers for weapons and drugs before they are allowed into a pub
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13631305/Rachel-Reeves-Starmer-constituency-crime-ridden-hell-hole.html

Hey, you two nutters are assuming that we've got some of that vorsprung durch technik bollocks that you Germans have got, well we haven't, in fact we've never had any, so don't ever think that our politicians have the brains to to fix any of our infrastructure, because they don't have the grey matter between the ears to do it. :O:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h43uHfjQruk

[Jimbuna]

https://i.postimg.cc/YC9MvQt2/450534693-7811073928974015-7605848059992521997-n.jpg (https://postimages.org/)online image hosting (https://postimages.org/)

[Moonlight]

Welsh Labour ministers resign telling Vaughan Gething to QUIT as FM

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/welsh-labour-ministers-resign-telling-vaughan-gething-to-quit-as-fm/ar-BB1q4ft4?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=EDGEESS&cvid=6267924bb8434d6bba4eb3ed11b03a3f&ei=356

Hahaha, this has been escalating for a while, taking donations from a businessman convicted of an environmental crime for dumping waste on a conservation site shows a lack of judgement on Gethin's part.
Last month he lost a confidence vote in his leadership but refused to step down as First Minister, and to top that off, he'd previously sacked one of his ministers for leaking information and provided no evidence against her what so ever.

I wonder what part of "**** off into the night" does Vaughan Gething not get. :haha:

[Jimbuna]

He 'gets it' alright and has announced he is walking.

[Jimbuna]

Vaughan Gething has quit as Welsh first minister, four months into the job, after members of his cabinet resigned and called for him to go.

"My integrity matters, I have not compromised it," he tells the Senedd in an emotional statement.

Gething was facing controversy for accepting a £200,000 campaign donation from a businessman convicted of environmental offences, and also separately for sacking a minister.

He insists claims of wrongdoing are "politically motivated" and regrets "that the burden of proof is no longer an important commodity in the language of our politics"

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has commended Gething for making "the best decision for Wales", weeks after publicly showing support for him.

[Moonlight]

Sadiq Khan demands £500m a year from Labour for TfL

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/sadiq-khan-demands-500m-a-year-from-labour-for-tfl/ar-BB1q4X0W?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=1766b15e35f84e0e9ca676e538c128ff&ei=59

Doesn't want much does he, this currant is long over due for a baseball to his forehead.

[Jimbuna]

https://i.postimg.cc/Gt1bL2Z0/Untitled.jpg (https://postimg.cc/0MZTZ8kZ)
https://i.postimg.cc/25sDGyjq/Untitleda.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
https://i.postimg.cc/fyZh4P9D/Untitledb.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[Jimbuna]

Oh how my heart bleeds for him, I'd have thrown him out on the streets or better still, straight into the Thames.

Humiliated Labour MP forced to swear in again after anti-monarchy protest

A Labour MP has been forced to swear in to the House of Commons again after taking an anti-monarchy swipe the first time.

Clive Lewis said he was declaring his allegiance to the King "under protest" and did not give the full affirmation when he returned to Parliament last week.

The Norwich South MP said: "I take this oath under protest and in the hope that one day my fellow citizens will democratically decide to live in a republic.

"Until that time I do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, according to law."

The full affirmation also includes "his heirs and successors" after mention of the King.

As he returned to the Commons today, the former Labour frontbencher said: "I was elected to Parliament to represent my constituents and our country to the best of my ability to defend democracy and uphold human rights and one day I hope all Members of Parliament will be entitled to swear an oath of allegiance based on those values.

"I do solemnly and sincerely and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, his heirs and successors, according to law."

Pro-monarchy group The Royalists had made a complaint to the Clerk of the House of Commons.

Reacting to his second swearing in, the campaigners said: "We are pleased to see that Clive Lewis MP has been forced to retake his affirmation of allegiance following our complaint to the Clerk of the House of Commons.

"MPs must not be excused from the common allegiance that binds our nation together."

MPs started the process of making an oath or affirmation of allegiance to the Crown last Tuesday.

The allegiance is a legal requirement and MPs are not allowed to speak in debates, vote or receive their salary until they do so. The same applies to peers in the House of Lords.

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, now an independent MP, was caught on microphone referring to the ritual as "a load of nonsense" before he took it.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/humiliated-labour-mp-forced-to-swear-in-again-after-anti-monarchy-protest/ar-BB1q58ze?ocid=msedgntp&pc=ENTPSP&cvid=874f9c225ef04fbeb64ef874edb7f275&ei=38

[Moonlight]

Labour surrenders in the war on motorists! Humiliated Welsh government SCRAPS blanket 20mph speed limits after less than a year after huge rebellion from drivers across the country

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13641391/20mph-Wales-Labour-government-scrapping-blanket-speed-limits.html

This is going to cost another £5 million to revert the roads back to 30mph and it cost £32 million for the original signage to be changed, this was a swivel headed loonies idea and, the rest of the Labour party jumped on board like the thick sheep they are.

[Jimbuna]

https://i.postimg.cc/DZKSxGKH/450646932-834073485454480-5992285051050597991-n.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[mapuc]

I know that TWA stands for Trans World Airlines, but what do these letters stand for when it comes to your new Prime Minister ?

Markus

[Jimbuna]

Tis a joke Marcus, copy the first letter and add it to the end and you have your answer :03: